Various Trials

Did you know the bowling alley has size 5 toddler shoes? Yes, there’s such a thing as cute bowling shoes!

But there’s nothing cute about my toddler having to wait her turn to bowl! Have the terrible twos arrived? Or has this behavior been untapped thus far as the result of her being the youngest? Her sisters anticipate and meet her every need and desire.

Last week I welcomed the “wait” in line at the aquatic center’s big slide. At first toddler wasn’t happy about it, but she seemed to begin to understand the concept of “taking turns”. It was a great learning experience, but one she seems to have forgotten if our bowling experience was any indication!

I guess we need to practice “taking turns” daily to get through to this little tyke!

I have an area in my heart that God keeps chipping away at…in fact, He’s been working away at it all week. Honestly, this same thorn pricks about once a year and stings for a few weeks. And it’s usually accompanied by another form of testing, such as finances. Sometimes it’s little things, piling up seemingly unnoticed till the proverbial straw added to the mix breaks the camel’s back.

James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

1 Peter 1:6 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials…” 

Sometimes you just have to remind yourself to rejoice. You choose to rejoice. God knows best…and He does have our best interests at heart:

1Peter 1:7 ends, “…so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”