Trying times build faith and boost resilience

Throughout our lives, we find ourselves faced with challenges that affect us and our families. Sometimes the challenges or trials we are faced with are caused by bad choices, but most of the time, the trials we encounter come from circumstances we have no control over. Many of you were excited to come to Alaska, while others were hoping for Hawaii. Some have service members deployed, while others have just made a permanent change of station, or will do so. Still others are dealing with a death or a newborn baby; regardless of the situation, we may find ourselves asking “Why is this happening to me?”

When I find myself in a situation like this, a verse that frequently comes to mind is James 1:2-3 which says: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James is saying the trials we have are designed to grow our faith and prepare us for future challenges. He is teaching us each trial we face increases our endurance in this race called life. For some, knowing we will face trials is not something to get excited about, but James assures us that we should find joy in the trials we are facing because it is in that trial we will find God leading us through the hills and valleys.

He is not being facetious in thinking we should be excited our lives are in turmoil. What we should be excited about, and find hope in, is God is there with us each step of the way. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Carolyn Carty describes this in her poem, Footprints: “One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Most of us are brought up to handle things on our own. We even have said things like “I don’t need your help,” or “I can figure this out on my own.” Some trials we go through can be solved on our own, but the big trials we face, the ones that overwhelm us and even consume us, we cannot make it through alone no matter how hard we try.

The only real way through this type of trial is with God. Until we are willing to submit to God’s grace and direction, we will continuously be consumed and devoured by the trial. We know we are going to face trials throughout our lives and when we encounter these trials; we can either continue to try on our own, drowning in many cases, or allow God to help us.

Thomas Manton writes, “While all things are quiet and comfortable, we live by sense rather than faith. But the worth of a Soldier is never known in times of peace.”

Many of us have faith and hope in God, but it is not until we are tested that we know the true depth of our faith. Last year as I recertified on the gas chamber for the year and I was reminded of something I was told in chaplain school: “In the Army we are tested on different skills over and over again to teach us to trust our training and our equipment.” In the same way, God is teaching us through various trials to rely on him and not ourselves. I pray you find hope in this.