Who am I? A wife for almost 40 years. A mom for over 36 years. A sister and a friend, of course. Each of these help describe me. But, even more, I have been a Christian since accepting Him as my Savior when I was 12 years old and, this truth defines each area of my life. I have enjoyed some mountain top experiences but have been through some very deep valleys as well. Valleys of incredible grief and even pits of depression. However, most of my days are ordinary, routine kind of days. But in every one of my days, God has been faithful. He has walked with me whatever the day. He strengthens, comforts, encourages and blesses me with life "most abundant."

A favorite life verse: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Why do I write? Though not quite as private as my dad, I am definitely my father's daughter. I find it difficult to share. And to let others in. But I do love to write. I love to put words into sentences and sentences in paragraphs that help express my thoughts. I hope my words help me share my heart. Share the life that God has given me and all that He has done for me and through me. I write with the hope of giving Him at least a bit of the glory He is due.

A verse to guide my writing: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:7

I Can Be Grateful For the Hard Things

Posted on By jennifer

Experience.  Today’s FMF prompt immediately took me to Romans 5:4…

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”

Of course, this verse makes the most sense when read in context with the verses before and after it.

“……but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”  Romans  5:3-5

 But there is the sticking point.  The tribulations – the trials.  Those parts of life that are just hard.  And that hurt.  But it is through “the hard” that we most effectively and genuinely experience the true character of God.  The truths about our savior that we have read and that we have heard become personal and real.

Much like the dreaded science fair experiments we drudged through when my kids were in high school.  There was a hypothesis.  Something we thought to be true but was only proven to be true (of false) after numerous, repeated attempts, trials or tests.  After all the testing, we could be confident our hypothesis, or belief, was right or wrong.  In a similar way, the more my faith is tested and God proves (again and again!) that His promises are true, the more steadfast and firm my faith becomes.  And my hope sure!  My experience proves it.

This is my FMF post for today.  Valentine’s Day:)  And not the stickiest sweet of posts, although I do feel like I have been chatting about plans – and my valentine – for days now.  However, I do have one extra thought.  Just as God has used the truly difficult things to show Himself to me, He has also used those times in my marriage.  To deepen our relationship and knit us even closer.  Through our hard times, I have seen not only my husband’s character but also his love for me and his commitment to our marriage.  And for that I am grateful.  Not for the trials themselves but I can be thankful for those things that could only be known through them.

This February 14th, I thank God for the one He gave me to walk through life with…to create and experience life with – both the wonderful and the hard!!  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Five Minute Friday

Comments (9)

  2. Today it’s really kind of tough
    to appreciate the trial
    that cancer sends, but it’s enough
    that I can find a cause to smile.
    The doggies’ playful antics,
    the cry of red-tailed hawk;
    cat chases laser (oh so frantic);
    what will he do when laser’s caught?
    And so at last I see the need
    for this long and deadly fight,
    for I, in health, did not pay heed
    to this garden of delights
    that, in their loving balm
    is a kindly God’s salaam.

  5. So true – we would never choose to have some of the experiences we have, but I can definitely see, looking back, that God has been at work in the hard times and that is often when I have experienced more of him.

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