Gaining Strength through Trials

A missionary couple once brought some African pastors to the Unites States for a big meeting. During their free time, these pastors wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, the missionary knew there was a chance one of them might have some difficulty finding their way around or get lost. So the missionary gave each pastor his phone number in case of an emergency. In less than an hour the missionary’s phone rang and one of the pastors said, “I am lost.”

The missionary replied, “Lay the phone down, go to the street corner, find out the names of the two streets, and come back and tell me.” In a few minutes the African pastor returned and reported, “I am at the corner of ‘Walk’ and ‘Don’t Walk.’”

The trials of life sometimes make us feel lost and unstable—we feel directionless and don’t know which way to turn. Sometimes it even seems that there are no good options. But God often allows trials in our lives so we will lean on Him and experience stability through His strength.

“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10