Patience and Faith

My oldest son has had a difficult two weeks.  It seemed like the world was against him and everything is his life was going against him.  Which was making him very frustrated and angry and very hard to live with.

Then earlier this week we got discussing Job from the Old Testament.  Here is pour Job, life was going great; his family was doing well, he was respected by his friends, and he was prospering.  Then one day Job wakes up and his children are a killed, his crops and animals have been burned or taken.  He gets nasty sores that are painful.   And his wife and friends leave him.

Yet through it all Job never curses God, he never stops praying, he never has self-pity and wonders “Why Me”.

My son and I discussed that when we are in the midst of our trails we have the option on how we behave.  We can be angry and curse God, hate the world, and take our frustrations out on those around us.  Or we can be like Job, and bear our burdens and endure our trails with patience and faith.  We know that God does good things for his children; suffering must benefit a person in some way.  And it may take years or a life time to see the benefits of certain trails.

In my reading this week I came across this thought from Emily Freeman’s book

 Written on Our Hearts,which lifted my spirits “Become a Possibilitarian.  No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities-always see them for they’re always there….When you combine courage and strength with the companionship of the Lord, you can expect miracles-possibilities beyond your exceptions….Find courage. Gather Strength.  Allow the Lord to be with you wherever you go.  Then prepare to experience wonders.  Greet each day with an enthusiastic welcome no matter how it looks.

This quote was what I needed this week.  Sometimes the miracle that comes is the patients to endure the trail and faith that the Lord will strengthen us.  

This clip doesn't necessarily go with my thought, but the song "Abide with Me" usually runs through my head when I am going through a trail.