Embracing Trials

It may seem ironic to see the two words embracing trials side by side. When people think of embracing something it is usually something warm, loving and accepting. When a person thinks of a trial, they may think of suffering and hard times, so why would we want to embrace trials and suffering? In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Peter writes, "this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I have found myself not only attempting to run from difficult times and trials but also fearful of what trials may come my way. However, we need to embrace trials instead of respond by running. Why? Because it is during trials that our faith is stretched, it is during times of trials and suffering that our faith is grown. We are brought to a place often of brokenness and total surrender to God. We learn things that we could not have learned any other way and we experience an intimacy with the Heavenly Father because we come to a place that there is no where to turn but to Him. However, when trials do enter our life, we can run, run away from God, in bitterness and anger, because we don't understand in our human minds the purpose and plan in what we are going through. We know that trials are going to come our way. So how do we prepare ourselves to respond the way we should. We need to be digging into the word, and depending on the Lord even during the good times, even during the mountaintop experiences we must not forget the One who has brought us to that place. We must not forget the one who died to restore us back to himself. We must not forget the sacrifice that Christ paid for us on the cross. For whatever trials that may come our way will never compare to the suffering that Jesus paid on behalf of our sins.