Festival in the Desert: 7 Days of Hope in the Hard TimesSample

Growing Through Trials “Just put it on my tab, God,” I thought as I slumped onto the dirty curb in my neighborhood and took a seat next to my dog. Hot tears rolled off my cheeks, leaving me looking like the captain of the Hot Mess Express as people strolled past me on the busy street. I was wrestling with another rejection. A friend decidedly ended their friendship with me via text during what already felt like the complete demolition of my community after a devastating breakup. It wasn’t just the text or the fact that someone was walking away when I wanted and needed people the most; it was that this was yet another blow to add to the growing list of pain in my life, and I was already down for the count and ready to give up. My grandmother’s voice echoed, “When it rains, it pours, baby doll.” But even though I could hear it in a sweet tone, it didn’t offer comfort. It made me angry. It made me resentful of all the challenges I was facing. It made me want to quit on everyone and everything. Have you ever felt this? It wouldn’t be until almost a year later that I would fully have a perspective shift on how I viewed all my suffering. I eventually discovered that it wasn’t that God was purposely inflicting pain and somehow forcing me to feel rejected and abandoned, but rather, He was in the process of reordering the steps of my life and meticulously positioning me to receive the “new” while allowing the old to be removed. He was also allowing old wounds from my past to bubble to the surface so that He could finally bring true healing through understanding, forgiveness, and surrender. He was training me in perseverance and teaching me that, just like with Jesus and the many other characters in Scripture, trials, persecution, rejection, and hardship are something that we can expect. But, when viewed through the lens of faith, we can see that God is always working things out for our good and His Glory. I look back on that moment now and think about how my life has changed and how I’ve grown in character, wisdom, understanding, capacity, compassion, empathy, and Grace. Suffering can be a beautiful tool that breaks open our ability to love when we let God hold our hearts and keep us from bitterness. We can choose to press into the pain and ask God to use it to make us more like Christ, surrendering our need to be right or even our desire to retaliate and choosing to let vengeance be His and His alone. It’s this type of radical trust that empowers us to keep going even when we face trials and persecution. This level of surrender allows us to keep loving, hoping, and forgiving. Time and time again, I’ve watched Him carry me through trial after trial, and with each new test, I find that I encounter His Love and Faithfulness in deeper and more beautiful ways. In these moments, I am reminded that man’s rejection is God’s redirection, and it offers a soothing balm to the wounds of my heart, a resurgence of faith, and a more complete sense of God’s ability to be my Everything. Guess what? He wants to carry you through it all, too. Power Verse: James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Power Thought: Trials refine our faith and character, leading to growth and maturity. Reasons to Rejoice: Each trial allows God to work in us and shape us into His Image. When we surrender the pain to Him and seek wisdom, He can bring fresh revelation and perspective that leads to our good in the long run. Prayer Prompt: "Heavenly Father, help me to see trials as opportunities for growth. Grant me the strength to endure and the wisdom to learn from each challenge." Opportunity for Reflection: How has your faith strengthened through challenges?