2-7-22<\/p>\n
A guest message by my friend Christine Eves, a talented writer and poet.<\/em><\/p>\n All of us exercise \u201chuman nature\u201d when at one time or other (at least) we dread the trials of life. Many of our prayers are that God might spare us from facing trials, or when they come that He might deliver us from the trials. We are pained further when those we love experience difficult trials.<\/em><\/p>\n Yet the trials come.<\/em><\/p>\n One way to view the Bible is as a long story of God\u2019s people facing trials\u2026 enduring, surrendering, or overcoming trials\u2026 and trusting God through the trials. This is life, after all; this is faith. Christine shares God\u2019s wisdom in her poem:<\/em><\/p>\n There are so many things to thank God for, Do we ever thank God for the rain \u2013 If we never knew of pain, If we never felt the rain He teaches us through trials, It\u2019s when we lose \u2013 When we are at our very lowest, God allows all things for a reason, I thank God for all he\u2019s done in my life \u2013 When there is nothing I can do, + + +<\/p>\n
\nBut do we ever stop and say \u2013
\nLord, thank you for the trial
\nThat you have brought my way?<\/p>\n
\nOr the storms that life has brought?
\nWhat about the pain and heartache,
\nOr the battles we have fought?<\/p>\n
\nOf heartache or of loss;
\nIf we never went through trials,
\nOr felt the weight of our own cross;<\/p>\n
\nWhen we prayed for the sun,
\nWould we ever truly understand
\nAll that the Lord has done?<\/p>\n
\nHe shows His strength when we are weak,
\nHe catches us when we fall,
\nAnd gives us words when we can\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n
\nThat in God, we gain;
\nWhen we learn to find His Joy \u2013
\nEven in our pain.<\/p>\n
\nAnd we have no strength left to fight \u2013
\nWhen our world is at its darkest,
\nThat\u2019s when we truly see God\u2019s light.<\/p>\n
\nAnd trials can be blessings in disguise.
\nWe must endure pain to ever truly grow,
\nAnd go through blindness, to appreciate God\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
\nFor the sunshine and the rain;
\nBecause I know His ways are best \u2013
\nEven though sometimes they bring us pain.<\/p>\n
\nI know the Lord will see me through;
\nAnd when I\u2019m in my darkest place,
\nI praise God for His love and grace.<\/p>\n