by Tracy Rollins

Created on: July 28, 2008

I see your true colors are beginning to show. Trials and tribulations seem to bring out the best or worst in us. Trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-4,12). Count it all joy seems so hard when you are going through this learning process. The desperate cry of our hearts is to escape this place of suffering. We often say Lord, why? We question so many circumstances. As we search for answers, God whispers I have a plan and it is for good and not evil. I imagine there where days that Job felt hopeless. Job didn't see the final outcome when all was stripped away. How many times do we feel stripped down to nothing? In trials and tribulations I have found myself crying out before a God who sees my every thought. Why do we pretend to be strong? The same God who created the heavens and the Earth sees every trial that comes our way. He knew we would have moments when we were weak. Let the weak say "I am strong."

When I hear the dreaded "T" words, I think of pain or suffering. The trials and tribulations only come to test what we have learned. To become pure gold, heat must be applied. Who am I to say to the potter what do you think you are doing. After all, he sees a beautiful masterpiece. The trails must come to remove all that hinders us from being what he desires. If I never had a trial I would not know patience. He will not put more on us than we can bear.
There have been times when it was so dark and cold; that I felt no sun would shine. How you ever been in a place where you feel forgotten by the world, and forgotten by your God? THIS IS ONLY A TEST- can you please get that through to my heart. These trials have come to make me strong. They have come to make me better. Then, why does it hurt? I am reminded I have been brought to this place to learn to rely on God alone. He is my source of strength, and the strength of my life. As long as God is for me, who can be against me? Hope begins to arise out of darkness. I begin to see I am looking more and more like Jesus. He is molding me into what he wants me to be. We have the victory through Jesus. He is working everything for good. He is developing an unshakeable character. Trials and tribulations may come, but they will not last forever. Sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. I will enter the place where I am lacking nothing. I will enter into a peace that passes my understanding. Hallelujah to the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings! Help is coming now. I see over the horizon hope rising. Light is moving away the dark clouds, and joy breaks forth like the dawn. I look back over where I have been and I realize I am better. I feel my fruit is no longer bitter. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

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