Necessary trials

 This past week I was reminded of how God works through and uses the hard times of trials and disappointments for his purpose. I know that is said by so many but you don’t fully believe it until it happens to you. Shockingly, (not) this epiphany came to me when I was listening to my worship music. The words of “Great is” by Elevation Worship spoke right to this. 

“It was lonely in the dark

But you were working.

It was painful, it was hard,

But you were working

All things for my good

Couldn’t feel you at the time

But you were working

Full of questions, wondering why

But you were working.” 

    After hearing these words I was just overcome by the feeling of gratefulness for this season of really hard and disappointing things. I felt such peace in where I was. Without all of these trials I really don’t think I would have this kind of relationship with the Lord. I would not be so dependent on him. I would still feel like I had control over my life. I would not be worshiping him in the hard nor praising him in the good. Without this moment of pause and complete reliance on him I would not have surrendered all control to him. 

    Why this feeling of gratitude was so shocking was because week 6 of my ED program hit me like a ton of bricks. I was down bad. I was feeling the weight of all of it. Feelings of disappointment, failure, and anger overcame me. But here I was in the middle of week 7 feeling so blessed for the very hard last 2 years. Tara-Leigh Cobble in the Bible Recap writes, “character is often formed through suffering.” God strips away our hope in our own strength and wealth in order to put us in the place of full surrender and reliance on his strength. Because HE has all the strength.  

    A sweet friend reminded me of Romans 5:3-5. And God has placed that verse in my path ever since, in multiple different Bible studies, devotionals, and podcasts. Here is the verse: 

    “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce endurance, endurance produces proven character; and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”     

    My point in all of this is that yes the trials and disappointments will suck. But He is working. Even though we don’t see it, He is building us up with his strength not our own. He is leading you to a place far better than the one you have planned. Trust that He will equip you with the endurance and hope He has promised. 

    So my encouragement and hope for you, is that you too will sit in the suck and lean into the Lord so you can see His goodness unfold for you.