Struggles and trials and frustrations, oh my!

Hi everyone, Lynette Eason here. Yesterday I was working on my newsletter. And lost the first draft after it was almost completely done. What??? Needless to say I was a little frustrated. However, once I calmed down, I decided to try to find the spiritual application there. I'll let you know if I find it. LOL. 

But seriously, sometimes things just go wrong. Sometimes life just throws us frustrations. I think God allows these things to happen to teach us how to respond to certain things. Now I realize losing a newsletter that I'd put several hours of work into doesn't compare to some things, but what if I respond with, "Okay, I'm not happy about this, but maybe there's some way to make this better?" I mean, it sure beats moaning and groaning about  the loss and pouting that I have to do the work over again, right? Maybe.

My fourteen year old daughter also recently learned a little about this when she fell off her horse a week and a half ago. She jumps horses on a regular basis and after nine years of riding has only fallen once before. This time her fall was a doozy. She sprained her back and couldn't hardly move for days. Pain medication gave her only partial relief. In the midst of her pain, she asked me, "Why did God let this happen?"

Of course I have no idea why He let it happen, but I asked her if she could learn something from it.

With no little sarcasm, she responded, "You mean other than the fact that I should have held on tighter?"

"Um...yes. Other than that."

She said something to the effect of, "Maybe it's so I'll slow down and make sure I'm keeping my focus on God."

Maybe.

In all of this, though, James 1:2 comes to mind: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." 

This is a hard one for me. I don't like trials. I don't like struggles. I especially don't like to see my child suffer. But when I--or my daughter-- come out stronger on the other side with the evidence that God is working in my life--and hers--, well, I have to admit, I like that part.

The same is true with writing. Before publication, we struggle, we moan and groan through the rejections. We cry out, "When is my time going to line up with your time, God?" And we press on, doing our best to learn through the frustrations. After publication, we struggle with deadlines, doing our best to make sure the writing doesn't take over so we neglect our family, our own needs--God. Through all of that, we must make sure not to take our focus off the one who will deliver us--one way or another.

I pray that if you are facing trials or frustration, struggles and hard times, that God will touch your heart, that he will wrap his arms around you to give you comfort and bless the socks off of you right there in the midst of your trouble.