Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV

Trials

God has allowed me to go through a trial for the past two years. I rejoice in that trial because He has drawn me still closer into His caring and loving arms through communication with Him and His mighty and glorious Word. This valley has been exceedingly fruitful and I would not trade it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to visit the mountaintops as well, but when this particular trial ends, I will not forget just how very important it is to interact with my Savior in an even more personal manner than before. Our Father teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I am often reminded of this song Andrae Crouch wrote a few years ago.

Through It All
I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus

Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I’ve been to lots of places,
I’ve seen a lot of faces,
There’s been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
Yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own.

I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do.*

Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Father, I give You and You alone all of the praise and all of the glory. I thank You, Lord, that You allow many different types of situations in our lives so that we might grow deeper in You. You show us in Your Word how You encouraged the prophets and teachers in the Old and New Testaments to seek and obtain victory through You. Thank You, Father, for showing us through those examples how to live the life that You graciously bestowed upon us. I pray that Your Word will embed in our hearts. In Your glorious and merciful name, Jesus Christ.

* CCLI Song # 18211. Andraé Crouch. © 1971 Manna Music, Inc. (Admin. by ClearBox Rights, LLC)