Trials May Bring Blessings!

"Thanking God through trials turns burdens into blessings." -Paul Van Gorder

Lately, I've fallen in love with the book of James - James 1:2-16 particularly, which says,

" ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
 ⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
 ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
 ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
 ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."

How encouraging is this?
No matter what we are going through at this very moment; whether it be the pressure of juggling all of our committments, job issues or job loss, financial crisis, children who keep you on your toes, marriage, death in the family, etc. ... You may currently be in a "series" of trials or trying times in your life. I want to encourage you that God will bring you through it and if you call to Him, He will strenghten you. Each trial may bring hardships, but if you open your eyes, they may also bring blessings. 

Like the quote I listed at the very top, Thanking God through trials turns burdens into blessings, if you continue to seek the Lord and thank Him for getting you through these hardships, you may see that things end up even better than they were. A marriage that may be struggling, for example, if you and your spouse call on the Lord and stay hidden in His Word, you may find that your marriage is even stronger in the end than it ever was. I encourage you to look for those blessings - big or small. Open your eyes to see what God is doing that we often don't open our eyes too. God is faithful and will never leave you, so continue to see after Him.

Stay blessed,
Lizzy