Trials to Blessings

It is absolutely amazing to me to see God move through your life. He can take a terrible situation – a situation where you feel as if you’ve sunk to your lowest point, where you feel that no one understands what you’re going through or experiencing – and turn it into an unfathomable opportunity for blessing beyond measure.

This past weekend, I found out some of my coworkers were saying terrible things behind my back, and, being the introvert that I am (INFJ), what they said crushed my spirit. I am a highly emotional person; even if I don’t show it outwardly, I internalize things at a very deep and personal level. If you are experiencing pain, I feel it with you; if you are weeping with joy, I have to hold back my own tears; and if you say things about me/to me – whether they are good or bad – I hold on to your words, though probably tighter than I should. Logically I know I shouldn’t, but emotionally I can’t help it, and Satan exploited that aspect of me. He made me feel weak and powerless, and I felt as if the world in its entirety was against me. It was a trial that I wasn’t sure I could overcome.

But then God intervened.

After pouring my heart out to Him, He blessed me with an overwhelming abundance of support from some of my closest friends – and I’m sure they didn’t even realize just how much of a blessing they truly were. They were right there for me when I needed them most, and words cannot express the depth of my gratitude for each and every one of them.

It amazed me, though, how God simply directed them into my path and gave them the exact words that I needed to hear. That act of divine providence served as a reminder that I am not of this world, and that this world holds no power over me. I serve the God who created the Heavens and the Earth, the Gentle Shepherd Who loves and defends His sheep, the Saviour Who died for His children because of His great, undying, eternal love for them – for me. Christ died for me, His little sheep, and He rose victoriously and took His rightful place at the right hand of God, and even now He is making intercession for me, even as I continually stumble and screw up and lose sight of Him. And when I pause to think, to even consider such unfathomable love, such wondrous grace, my heart becomes filled with joy and song and thanks to my God who saved me from the cruel constraints of this world.

I need not worry about what those of this world think of me – whether they are my coworkers or some random stranger – for I am His, and He is mine, and that shall ever be. I knew and believed this before, but God has now made it plain and real before my face of just how amazing He is. I suppose I just needed the reminder, but I don’t think I will ever truly forget the sweet grace and mercy and love of my God.

Only He can turn a trial into a blessing.

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“Thus sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee – How great Thou art!”

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