The insightful best selling book The Road Less Traveled begins with the simple "picture window" word "Life is hard".
The French say "la vi est dieu" (the road is difficult).
This planet we live on is not Heaven. Satan wreaks havoc on this fallen planet. Man's "fall" in the Garden of Eden rendered for all mankind an existence of crime, disease, heartaches, and heart breaks.
But, the French continue the two part phrase, "me dieu est bon" (my God is good).
My good friend, Josh McDowell, says that trials will either make you bitter or better. If you walk with God, trust God in all circumstances, and hold Him sovereign in your life, hurts and difficulties always bring out the best in you. If the "stuff" and pleasures of the world are your ultimate aim, let downs and disappointments will make you bitter.
The focus of your life that moves you from a "groaner" to a "praiser" is not the size of the trial, but the shape of your heart.
If my ultimate goal is "to get to Heaven and take as many people with me as I can," trials actually become my friend because, put simply, God uses trials to get people humbly at the foot of the cross.
My young friend, Ricky, died in a drowning accident. Seven people who knew Ricky accepted Christ as their personal Savior before the sun set that very day. Martin has had 14 major surgeries on his face from his traumatic birth defect. He called from his hospital bed yesterday to praise God for his opportunity to receive medical care. Lauren lost her leg to cancer. She majors in triathlete at our sports camp, blesses and amazes everyone by her fantastic attitude and Christ-given smile.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why do trials become a watershed to separate true Christian faith from counterfeit faith? 2. How can you use the trial you are now facing to make you "better" and turn your attitude into a "praiser"? 3. Hebrews 5:8 says about Jesus, Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. How do trials make you appreciate and identify with Him more? LIFELINE:
Home is the "comforting place" when the trials of life wound a family member. | 
Posts