"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."
(James 1:2-3 AMP)
I do so love the book of James. :-)
It takes testing to know what we're made of, where our weaknesses lie.
If we never were exposed to conditions that ask more of us than we can (or want) to give, we would never have the chance to recognize we need God . . . and we wouldn't have much chance to know His power, His love. We love Him when He finds us in our distress, and saves us from ourselves.
God, this journey hasn't been all fun & games. You know that far better than I. And yet, with each wave of pain, of difficulty, of loss, You show up. You come and find me, and like my midwife's praise during my first homebirth, You show me You are pleased with me. Her simple & kind "Good girl" during the hardest moments gave me such strength . . . and the love You pour into me in my distress is a thousand-fold. Thank You, Father, for Your reassuring love. You have my love, always. In Jesus' name, amen.
