None of us like tough times or challenges.  None of us like times of trial, or times of worry, or times of stress.  These are all times that we turn away from, times we we don’t like, times we great, and yes, even times that will haunt us and stay with us for a long while.

There are times in our life that are so hard, that literally feel like days, months, or years of our lives are wasted and gone, time we will never get back, time that is gone for us.  These times trial can cause us to even think that God is not there, that we have failed, that our faith is crushed.

You may be going through a tough time right now, and that’s how you feel.  You may be going through a hard time right now, and you’re wondering, where is God, how is this going to get better, how is this going to change, how can I keep going?

Today, listen to the words of James 1: 2-4.  This time of trial may be a great blessing to you, believe it or not:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Count these times joy.  I know it doesn’t sound right. I know it doesn’t even make sense. But it’s true.  These tough times, they will make us strong. They will make us better.  We will grow.  We will find our way.  We will find that God is there.

See, that’s the thing that I’ve come to realize about times of trial.  We feel like God’s not there. We all feel that way. But what we come to find out, in time, is that it is God that is carrying us.  It is God that is giving us the strength to keep going.  It is God that is pulling us forward, holding us close, giving us strength.

No matter how hard the challenge is today, God is with you.  Know that. Remember that.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give up.  Don’t give up.

Even if you don’t feel it, God is there. Don’t give up.

For this time of trial, it will grow you.  It will change you.  It will make you better.  It will.  Believe that. Keep going.

Even in the hard times.

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