“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17,18).
We inevitably will face hard times in life. How we deal with them can make us stronger or destroy our faith.
Why do hard times come to us? That’s a question the most intelligent people in history have asked. I am not sure anyone has the whole answer. I do know hard times in life often happen when we come face-to-face with God’s power and love. God works through hard times and shows us His strength.
Some people think God’s purpose for allowing trials to come into our lives is so He can reveal who He is to us. If you read Exodus, you know God led Israel into a trial that was too much for their human strength. They were forced to ask God to help them. They had to trust Him completely. We also see how God answered the prayers of Moses by giving him insight and wisdom.
God wants to activate thought. He will not withhold the answers to our problems. Some of my best ideas have come when I said, “God, You brought me here. This situation is too hard for me. Please tell me what to do.”
When hard times come, we only have to do three things:
—Pray
—Trust God actively.
—Hang on!
Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.
From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
Copyright (c) 2005 Women’s Ministries of the Assemblies of God.
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