Ecclesiastes 7:14 “Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.  Remember that nothing is certain in this life.”

Few things are more essential to survival in this life than trust in God. It is our faith in Him that gives us hope when days are dark. It keeps us from giving up or giving in to despair. All of life is neither a straight path nor a gentle, downhill slope but it is full of unexpected twists and turns, uphill climbs and some barely traveled paths as well. If we knew nothing but easy times and unending prosperity, we would become complacent, ungrateful and spoiled. If we knew nothing but trial and tribulation without end, we would have no rest, see no reason to continue the journey with nothing but more of the same to look forward to. God uses good times to show his great love and affection for us. Likewise, he gives us trials (whether by sending them or allowing them) as opportunities to grow our trust and faith in him. Without times of difficulty, times of prosperity cannot be appreciated. Nobody needs to be told who to run to when trouble strikes. But how you view those pivotal circumstances will determine whether your faith grows or moves you further away from the source for all you need.

Pray: Dear God, help me to see the trying times of my life as opportunities to grow my faith in you. All I need to do is look at the good times to know your great love and affection for me. Why then would you suddenly try to do me harm? It makes no sense. Surely then there is a reason for the things you allow me to go through – and just as surely there must be some benefit in it for me. Lord, when the storms come help me to not lose my smile – in my blessed brother’s holy name I pray – Amen