Trials

Last night, like many nights now, my 13 year old dog "Buddy" has a hard time sleeping through the night. For some unknown reason he starts barking, then stops for a few minutes, then starts barking again. Even now, (4:30 am) as I type this blog, he is sound asleep. So I am wondering if it is because when I am sleeping he does not feel as safe and secure as to when the lights are on and I am sitting up. Maybe he is thinking I am on guard for him? That's a switch. I have noticed that as we get older we start feeling less secure. Maybe it is that way with animals too?

Well, even though I could of used this time sleeping, I thought it would be good to read a few devotionals and a few bible verses. As I read Charles Spurgeon's devotional for this morning there it was in black and white. My lack of sleep tonight is just a small trial the Lord has put upon me. I am truly aware of His grace through trials. Being involved with the God's Love Outreach Ministry I also can see the many trials that so many of "His wounded" in nursing homes are facing daily. It is one thing to go through trials when your body is functioning, but what when it gives out on you? What about when almost every daily action requires someone to help you with it. These are large trials my friends. Enormous ones. My little trial of lack of sleep seems so pitiful compared to theirs. But little or small the one common bond through all our trials is Christ. I am so amazed that when after a program and I am visiting with the residents how they always manage to say "thank you" and also give me a smile. That is God's grace being shared with me.

I pray that whatever your trial might be today, that you thank God for this chance to be closer to Him! Trials do that you know.

“Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.”
- Job 10:2

[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]

[Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star-not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of his children’s graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?-for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why he is contending with you?

“Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to his feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.”]

Trials

With each day
that comes a new,
there are some trials
that seem to come too.

Each trial brings
it's pains and cares,
that sometime seem
too much to bear.

My heart cries out
Lord what can I do?
I need Your help
to get me through.

Then as the trial
begins to fade,
I finally realize
why it was made.

For all my trials
that I am going through,
I find myself
the closest to You!

E. P. Shagott
2/18/10

From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott