Have you ever been in a trial and felt the overwhelming presence and love of God and others? I have just gone through such a trial. This was a true trial that could have led to death, but instead has brought more life to me than I can explain.
I got Covid-19 and ended up in the hospital. Even though I had all my vaccinations, I was a prime candidate for it because of the treatments I get for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. Come to find out from several doctors, the medicine for the arthritis lowered my immune system so I could not fight off the virus. I was told I could no longer take this medication. It was that serious. Thank God the vaccinations did help as much as they could. Some people do not believe this virus is real, but I am here to tell you it is definitely real.
This month many will be celebrating Valentine’s Day as a special day to express love to that special someone in your life. There is nothing wrong with this, but can I encourage you to make every day a day to express God’s love to someone. For every day God is expressing His love to us. One way He expresses His love for us is to allow us to go through trials. Look at how His love is revealed in trials:
Trials Purify Our Faith (1 Peter 1:6-9)
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Trials Increase Our Patience (James 1:2-4)
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. “
Trials, If We Let Them, Will Bring Us to A Better Place (Psalm 66:10-12)
“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.”
Trials Bring Glory to God (1 Peter 4:12-16, 19)
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
I wish I could expound on the abundance of love I felt from God, my husband, my children, my relatives, my friends, my neighbors, etc. What I gained through this trial is precious and can never be taken from me. This trial revealed true love to me in ways I had not seen before. What more could I ask?
Paula is compassionately committed to biblically teach and mentor women who desire to be renewed in their minds by God’s eternal Word so their destinies will become a reality. She goes beyond sharing biblical principles to practical application for everyday living.
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