It often seems that remembering God’s goodness during trials is harder than remembering them after
trials. When we’re in the middle of a trial, all we can think about is how a good outcome can happen.
We’re battling impatience, dead ends, despair, and the fear that the outcome may not be what we
expect, or feel we deserve. We just want our trial to end and be resolved according to our desires.
That’s why it is so important to REMEMBER God’s goodness. For in remembering God, we can put on
the mind of Christ.
Romans 5:3 states “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.” Hope. When our hope is in Christ, we are
never disappointed. Disappointment comes, and we can be overcome with it, but ultimately, knowing and trusting in Jesus Christ, our Brother, and Son of the Creator of the world, brings us to the rejoicing in
HOPE!
When we have hope, we know that when trials come, God will bring acceptance and meaning out of
what we’ve endured. I found it ironic that behind Katie during her talk was a nest in the tree outside of the prayer room. When we look to God for answers, He hears our hearts and provides the answers He chooses. No matter what our circumstances are; a barren womb, a wayward child, an unexpected death of a loved one, an unfaithful spouse, a devastating health diagnosis; when we make our petitions to God, He always provides an answer according to His will. And when we can pray as Jesus did in the garden “Not my will but thine,” we can rest in the answer and trade our grief into hope. How beautiful that Katie could get to this place and hear God speak to her through the Psalms. Psalm 113:9 talks about settling the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Only God knows how that will play out for Katie, if somewhere in that string of paper (her timeline) that will show up. It may be in this life, or in the life to come.
Belonging to Christ brings the peace and comfort of knowing that “In this life you will have trouble
(trials), but Take Heart! He has overcome the world.” John 16:33
– Mary Beth
Reflections on Remembering God’s Goodness Through Trials
Real Moms. Real Life. 