by Rachel Mercik

Created on: May 11, 2010

“Trial (n.)- subjection to suffering or grievous experiences; a distressed or painful state: comfort in the hour of trial.

Tribulation (n.)- grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.”

-from www.dictionary.com

Life has the possibility to run the gamut from miracle to debacle.   What seems like a foreword to a Hollywood drama is a common theme in the human experience.  In living, we are united by trial and tribulation.  No person is exempt from suffering and grievous experience.

A happy, gleaming optimist, I used to be a pessimist until I knew the true meaning of trial and tribulation.  I can only describe the transformation as the bright morning that follows the darkest night.  In searching for God, I thought I was unique and exempt from this special brand of suffering and grievous experience. In my ignorance of a true God, I knew I was destined to fail and accepted my fate. A lifetime of gambles was paid to me in what seemed like an instant and I fell- hard.

Before I came to know the true God, I made countless unsafe bets- with my mind, my body and my finances.  In the space of a few hours, the truth of my actions was revealed and the consequences were devastating- I lost my family, my home, my sanity and my financial security.  Fearing for our health and safety, I moved my son and I out of our house in the city, a life I knew and loved- and set out for the unknown, mentally naked and emotionally discarded.

Before you consider quitting, aborting, cheating, giving up or just plain copping out, consider this: darkness only serves to make the light more so.  In other words, there is no joy without having been pain, no morning without night, no flower without first the mud and dirt.  Low points, dark times and pain are tools the merciful Lord uses to draw us closer to Him.  Without falling to my lowest point, I would never have been lifted up so high.  I have my life, love, satisfaction, faith and family as a testament to this.

May you be blessed along your way to find true peace in the midst of anger, confusion, hurt, and betrayal.  The Lord gives us His promise that we shall not be forsaken or forgotten as we believe, so rest your faith in this.  He never promised to keep us from trials and tribulations, but gave us power to rise above and be Christ-like by example.   When the flames lick at your feet, the capacity to forgive is your greatest ally. 

Amen!

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