I find encouragement in the question of a contemporary Christian song: “What if trials of this life – are your blessings in disguise”’

Trials must be more than simple tests of strength. God already knows how easily we can fall, and He knows all of our weaknesses.

‘As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust’.

Psalm 103:13-14 (New King James Version: NKJV)

Does our view of difficulty make a difference to our well being as we go through it? I think it can. What if we could see our trials as opportunity for God’s faithfulness to be displayed and not just as tests of our strength… wouldn’t that have an impact?

Weak as we may be at the start of it – don’t we build physical strength and energy through a gradual increase of stressing our muscles, joints, and whole systems with regular exercise?

Hmmm … What if it works the same with our faith? Blessings in disguise could equate with strength through the regular exercise of experience, if we choose to see it that way.

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In a rain-storm, we lose the beauty of clear sunshine. But without the rain there would be no rainbow, and water itself is life.

Tears are often painful, but they help us clarify and wash away some of our toxic emotions.

Sleepless nights are not often fun – but they do have a way of focusing our attention. We might need much more than one night to see through distractions, to identify and prioritize our needs, or to puzzle our way to solutions or to the next step we can take, or to a place of ‘letting go’.

So, what if trials in this life are blessings in disguise? I suggest we agree to explore that possibility. To do so, we need a few more agreements:

1. We agree to hang on through the trial. We can’t give up, run away, or deny.
2. We acknowledge that God does not send all trials into our lives – we often help in that delivery with our choices or careless inattention, and we do live in a fallen world with plenty of pain and trials to share. But, God does promise to use everything in our lives for good – to enrich this lifetime – or to prepare for the next, for ourselves or others. Nothing is wasted.
3. When we have the final results as the trial ends, the dust settles, and we can clearly understand the outcomes – we may see cuse/effect patterns, or they may be beyond our grasp. We need trust, patience, open mindedness.

I find it helpful to view trials from this point of view. It fosters hope and comfort rather than hopeless and worthless pain. I want this investment to have a pay off not just a vague ending.

What if we choose to trust the one who holds the answers? We are loved – even when we can’t feel it or see it or find evidence in our present circumstances. We’ve got His word on that!

I would have missed valuable lessons and some sweet rewards if I had been successful in avoiding every trial. How about you? Can you recall a trial that resulted in new wisdom, strength, or other gain?

Can we recognize value in deliberately viewing a trial in this way – one that may ‘disguise’ hidden treasures?

If we begin with prayer – we can ask God for more than escape or endurance. We can ask for help to find and understand the blessings and how to apply them… and then give thanks that we do not face anything alone.

At the close of Matthew 20:20 our Lord said …“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b Amen.

Blessings, Love and Laughter,

Margaret