Thankful Thursday - Trials

This week's theme is being thankful in the midst of trials. When I think of trials, I think of these two passages of scripture:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

and

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

Now, I don't know if I have arrived to the point where I greatly rejoice when I have a trial (OK, I know I'm not there yet) but it's wonderful to know that I do get something out of it: increased faith, endurance, confidence and hope. These are all attributes that are greatly needed in my life.

In fact, I must have them! And God knows I need them; so He allows me to go through tough times to get them.

He says that my faith is more precious than gold. People have given their lives to find earthly gold. I've read many stories of the old Gold Rush days and the things the golddiggers would endure to find gold. Surely finding spiritual gold (faith) is more important! Am I willing to suffer discomfort to find gold?

This is Thankful Thursday, and so I do want to be thankful for the trials I've been through. I have learned endurance when I had to pray for 10 years to have children. I learned faith when my husband was out of work and needed a job. I do have hope that my beloved daddy will meet me in heaven, because my family and I prayed 17 years for him to be saved before he made Christ his Savior. Most of all, I have confidence in Him because every time I've been in trouble, He's always worked things out for me. Every time.

Thanks, Iris, for reminding me to be thankful for trials. I'm in the midst of two different struggles right now. But, it's going to work out fine. I'm not giving up, and Jesus will get the glory.

To read other thankful hearts, visit Iris at Grace Alone.