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Trials and Endurance

"Consider it all joy, my brethren,when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4.

Oh, how easy it is to read such a verse when one faces no trials. But to read and believe it in the midst of a trial, now that is another story.

It seems my life has been a roller coaster of joy, fear, sadness and peace. So many of these ups and downs are a result of mistrust in the Him who is perfectly trustworthy. Sleep is lost, days are ruined and depression creeps in all because I don't truly believe that "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble". (Psalms 46:1) Such mistrust makes facing trials ten times harder.

I have faced trials before but it seems this one is the most difficult of all.Perhaps it is because I feel that so much is out of my hands and perhaps it is because I have not wanted something so much in my life. It seems the harder I try to trust and lean on God the more distraught and desperate I become. I start to doubt God and what I felt sure He would grant me. The longer the trial lasts the harder it becomes to endure. Yet endure I must and hope and wait for the perfect result.

Before I had a chance to finish my above revere God began to ease the difficulty of my trial. He listened and answered and it seems all is becoming perfect. However, there is still one obstacle, one more trial. It seems so small but yet, the trial is not over.

God give me strength; give me endurance.

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