I wanted to tell yall about the week we had in the last week of January. We had run out of miles, so we had the opportunity to walk everywhere. Not only that, but during that week, it rained more than the rest of the month combined. Ultimately, I think that those trials were a huge blessing in my life, and I will tell you why.
First, I realized that God never leaves us, and I know He was right there the whole time, helping me out, and giving me the strength to carry on.
Second, I am grateful because although He never left my side, He did allow me to struggle, in order that I could learn and experience the things that I needed to. Just like parents have to let their kids struggle sometimes when they are trying to walk, so too, does God allow us to struggle sometimes, in order that we too, can walk, and find full happiness in this life.
Third, for the many other valuable lessons I learned, I am grateful for my trials. They opened up my eyes to new insight into my life and who I am. They helped me get to a point where I was teachable. I came to realize more fully that there was more to life than just trying to get by. We can excel! We don't just endure. We endure well, and joyfully, and that is possible because of Christ and His atonement.
So yeah, in some ways, those trials were a real bummer, and I was more tired and sore than I can ever remember being. But, it is when those times come that I truly come to know God. And that makes all of it worth it.
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| "Before the fruits of properity can come, the storms of life need to first bring the required rains of testing, which mixes with the seeds of wisdom to produce a mature harvest" - Lincoln Patz |
