The Opportunity in the Trial

Elisabeth Elliot said these words: “This hard place in which you perhaps find
yourself is the very place in which God is giving you the opportunity to
look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering,
gentleness, meekness- in short, to learn the depths of love that Christ
Himself has poured out on all of us.”

Source

God gives trials to each of us in His will and in His time.  Mine won’t look like yours; yours won’t look like mine.

I have a sweet friend, only 34 years old, mother to a precious young daughter, who is fighting breast cancer.  God is giving her grace.  Another friend is recovering from a fairly serious car accident, one that wasn’t her fault, but has left her with residual pain and a long period of healing.  Others I know face financial difficulties, family separations due to work obligations, a child with ongoing health needs.

I Peter 1:7 tells us “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

These trials that God brings into our lives can, if we allow them, help us see our need of Him, teach us to rely on Him, make us more like Him, and bring Him glory.  It’s not natural or easy, but surrendering to His will and trusting His goodness can bring this about in our lives.

As this verse from the old hymn “How Firm a Foundation” reminds us,

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

Whatever trial you and I find ourselves facing today, may we realize the depth of His love, access His grace, and draw close to Him through prayer and His Word