May 25, 2019 - Late Night Thoughts on Trials and Guardrails

I can’t sleep. When I lay down, I cough. So I have time to think, which is not always good because my mind is tired and I tend to worry when I’m tired. Things like this:

* What will the upcoming pet scan on June 5th show?  
* Is this coughing from bronchitis or is there some progression in the tumors in my lungs? 
* Why can’t I be more “fun” right now when all my grandkids are in one town? 

All very productive and helpful. 🙂

I decided to start a new Bible reading plan tonight focusing on the book of James. This is what I read in the overview:

“James gives a powerful exhortation to the followers of Jesus to consider the value of trials. He teaches that the development of patient endurance often happens through trials. Suffering and trials are a certainty for believers. When we accept and endure trials the proper way (with joy), we develop spiritual maturity. Joy is not in the suffering itself, but in the knowledge that we are never alone or forgotten by God while we are suffering. What does your response to trials reveal about your trust in God? Trials serve great purpose in a believer’s life. They help us to tap into God’s inexhaustible comfort, love, grace, and hope. They also help us to see where we are doing life without God. Where do you need God’s help to change your view of trials and suffering?” 

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’ve read these verses so many times in the last few years - and tonight, they again reminded me that it’s not my “job” to worry or fret, but to “count it all joy”. That is comforting!

Next, I started looking videos of a trip we took last year to Lake Tahoe. One in particular caught my attention. We were driving around Lake Tahoe (like next to the lake and the road is way up high) and there were NO GUARDRAILS on sections of this two-lane road. And it had hairpin turns!! As I watched the video, I realized that this is how I feel as we navigate our current season. Like we are on a road with no guardrails and it doesn’t feel safe. But that’s not how God sees it. He’s the one driving, not Tony or me, and He has an excellent record. 🙂

As I write this with tears running down my face (gotta quit that - it makes my nose more clogged up!! 😂), I am SO thankful that God is right here with us. He is good. He’s not worried about having no guardrails on this road, He is using these trials for good, and He is reminding me again to lean into the joy that comes only from Him. He can be trusted to use bad things for good. It’s my prayer tonight that anyone dealing with a trial or road with no guardrails can find the peace that comes only from Him. :)