John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Yes, Jesus assured us that trials (tribulation) not only may, but truly will, come into our lives. What do we do when they come? I believe trials can break you down, wear you out, cause you to lose hope. Can anyone say … depression?

Don’t Waste Your Sorrows!

But… when you lean into Father God, trials bring you deeper into your relationship with the Lord. They strengthen your faith as He proves His goodness through it all. To comfort others in their trials, we need to experience our own.

Comfort Others, Gain Experience

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Trials develop our compassion. Experience is gained so we can raise our levels of understanding.  We learn more about this life compared with heaven, and we understand more how God works in human lives. The accounts in the Bible make more sense.

Find the Hidden Gems

Trials develop patience. They are fertile soil to grow, making us more like Jesus. We experience goodness in those who walk the rough road with us or help us out at just the right time. When we begin to see the light, joy resurfaces.

Trust God

We serve a God who knows the end from the beginning,  who has been from beginning to the end of all our lives. We can trust him that our sorrows will be turned to joy for His glory and our good.

I leave you to meditate on the following verses in Romans. I pray that the Holy Spirit will bless your understanding, and you will see the jewels in your darkness.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

When morning guilds the skies… my heart awakening cries… may Jesus Christ be praised!