I’ve spent many hours this year scrapbooking my kids’ childhoods. A treasure trove of memories, but often bittersweet because along with great experiences come hard times. Trials and tests. Times when spiritual muscles and faith strengthen, or we forget the infinite greatness of God and lose heart completely.
God often allows trials in our lives to test our faithfulness and love for Him. Naturally, as humans, we fail many times. And when that happens, our merciful and patient Father stands by, ready to reteach and retest.
But think again. Does God really need to test us to know our level of faithfulness? Our love? Not at all. He already knows our every thought and motive of the heart.
Perhaps, instead, He tests us so that we might recognize our level of faithfulness. Or lack, thereof. That we might examine ourselves and make changes accordingly. That we might pray as King David prayed in Psalm 139:23: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
The greatest trial in my life … Six years ago my sweet husband went to live with Jesus. At the time, I couldn’t fathom how I could ever be truly happy again. How time could ever make life easier. How I could ever miss Greg with less intensity.
But God has proven Himself true to me over and over as my Husband. His presence is there when I ache for companionship. His strength when I want to give up. I literally talk to Him all day long about everything: problems, pleasures, and plans. I don’t know how God works the miracle of healing in times of loss, but in His time, He does.
One of the beautiful spiritual muscles God has developed in me since Greg’s death is that of empathy, deep compassion, and an ability to pray fervently for those left behind when a loved one dies. To pray with fervency that comes only from knowing the relentless, suffocating pain that accompanies such loss. To stand in the gap and believe, with real hope, for the future of my dear friends. For beauty from ashes.
And I realized that this God-given empathy was—in a tiny way—the very sort of empathy Christ feels for us as we journey through the ups and downs of life. He knows. He understands. And He offers real hope for our future.
I wonder what kind of trials you’re dealing with in your life today. God came that we might have life. Eternal life. But abundant life in this world as well. Life in Him, knowing that He is always there for us. That all we need to do is to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us.
Recently, we celebrated Christ’s birth. With that in mind, I pray that you might take time to rededicate your life to Him, that you might know Him more intimately than ever before in the year ahead. He has so much to offer!
God-Moments
6/8/2019 11:46:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When Life Happens!
1/23/2019 9:31:00 PM by: Barbara Haley
Great Deals for Christmas!
11/24/2018 3:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Guardian Angel to the Rescue
9/16/2018 3:52:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
Biz On the Go Now Available!
6/10/2018 10:35:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Nothing Compares!
4/5/2018 2:26:00 AM by: Barb Haley
STUCK in your Comfort Zone?
2/5/2018 10:04:00 PM by: Barb Haley
There's a Song in the Air!
12/15/2017 8:20:00 PM by: Barbara E. Haley
When you think you're finished, and then . . . God!
8/6/2017 8:18:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Those Branches HAD to Go!
5/30/2017 12:25:00 PM by: Barb
Eight Years Later ...
1/9/2017 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12/16/2016 11:58:00 PM by: Barb
O Holy Night
12/15/2016 11:49:00 PM by: Barb
A White Christmas
12/13/2016 11:54:00 PM by: Barb
We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
12/12/2016 12:04:00 AM by: Barb
We Three Kings
12/11/2016 1:00:00 AM by: Barb
Birthday of a King
12/10/2016 12:54:00 AM by: Barb
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
12/9/2016 12:46:00 AM by: Barb
Hallelujah Chorus
12/8/2016 12:49:00 AM by: Barb
Joy to the World
12/7/2016 10:16:00 PM by: Barb
Do You Hear What I Hear?
12/6/2016 8:05:00 PM by: Barb
O Little Town of Bethlehem
12/5/2016 8:02:00 PM by: Barb
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
12/4/2016 7:59:00 PM by: Barb
Angels From the Realms of Glory
12/3/2016 7:55:00 PM by: Barb
Silent Night
12/2/2016 7:51:00 PM by: Barb
A Closer Look at the Christmas Carols
12/1/2016 7:47:00 PM by: Barb
When Prayers Take a LONG TIME to be Answered
10/19/2016 10:27:00 PM by: Barb Haley
Anybody Up for a Bit of Transformation?
9/24/2016 12:32:00 AM by: Barb Haley
Diving in the Wind
8/16/2016 by: Barb
Because I Can!
7/12/2016 by: Barb
Baby Steps
6/30/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
No Help From Me
6/12/2016 by: Barb
Day One: Do I Need a Blindfold, Lord?
6/10/2016 by: Barb
Depression? I'd Kick It if I Could
6/9/2016 by: Barb
God Has Our Backs
2/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Winner Is...
11/30/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Sample sections from A Second Wind
11/28/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Has Anyone Heard From the Lord Lately?
9/13/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Emotional Strain of Chronic Pain
9/8/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Why does God test us?
1/29/2015 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Inciting Incident-What?s That?
9/1/2014 by: Barb
Act One?the Ordinary World
8/24/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
8/14/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Story or Plot?
8/8/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
True Light
4/15/2014 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Words of Love Last Forever!
7/19/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Alzheimer's-Not the Only Way to Let Go
7/9/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Hunger Games
6/26/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
What Would God Say?
6/13/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Keeping It All Inside
6/3/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
The Rest of the Story
5/29/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Trust and Obey
5/25/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Hidden Dirt
5/22/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
One Layer at a Time
5/17/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb
Welcome!
5/15/2012 12:00:01 AM by: Barb