As I prayed for each of them, it dawned on me — I was once more able to share my story with someone and bring insight and hope to their circumstances. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of thankfulness in my heart. Once again, I found meaning and purpose for the trial I faced years ago.

If we were to be truthful about our prayer lives, I believe most of us would agree that it is mostly centered on our needs, or the needs of those we love. As people of faith, it is only natural that we cry out to God for help in times of trouble. We should do so, indeed. However, when the answer doesn’t come, or when tragedy seems to become the ultimate answer, we find ourselves questioning the truthfulness about God’s unfailing goodness, mercy and love.

In the midst of our storm, as our prayers go unanswered and troubles weigh us down, God’s voice seems to be silent. His love, cold. We shake our heads in disbelief, as we watch the innocent die, or disease take over faithful, godly people.

“Why, God? Why?” we ask.

I’m here to offer a different perspective today. What if we changed the grid by which we sift our lives? What if we were able to distance ourselves from the small sphere of our current reality, and were able to sift our circumstance through the grid of eternity and God’s plan for the people we encounter throughout life’s journey? What if our temporary affliction is indeed producing for us an eternal fruit that far outweighs our troubles today?

What if you could look into your future and realize that, just as it happened to me this week, you will one day be able to strengthen, uplift, equip and encourage someone, just because they will face what you are facing today? In other words, what if your trial is absolutely, undoubtedly, not about you?

It’s a true and proven fact that the best mentors are those who have journeyed through the roads less traveled. People of effective influence are those who face tough challenges and burdens, pressing on through their hardest circumstances, limping through each obstacle in order to cross the finish line. This realization doesn’t change the nature and hardship of our problems, but it can certainly bring perspective and change how we pray. Because if we say that we truly trust God and want him to use us to further his kingdom, then it would do us good to accept the burdens he places in our hands, understanding that they are but tools used to sharpen us and make us the person he chose to fulfill a specific role in his master plan.

Whether our sphere of influence will be limited to the people that live under our roof, or our voices are destined to be heard in the four corners of the world, there is a purpose for each dark valley we cross. As one standing on the other side of many trials, witnessing the countless times I’ve been able to reach out and touch someone’s life because of the lessons learned in each valley, I realize: It was never about me, anyway.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author and national conference speaker. Her book, “Twelve Inches: Bridging the Gap Between What You Know About God and How You Feel,” is available on Kindle, at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon and other retailers. Visit her website at www.soaringwithhim.com Email: pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com

The post What if the Trial You Face Isn’t About You? {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Mary was a poor lady who worked as a maid for a wealthy family. She was a joyful Christian who regulary performed her hard labor while singing songs of praise. She always had a word of encouragement and a smile on her face, regardless of her circumstances.

Her boss was a sullen woman who was bothered by Mary’s apparent lack of concern for her future. One day, when Mary carried a happy tune while scrubbing the mansion’s floor, her boss couldn’t take it any longer. She blurted out all of her concerns for Mary: “I understand your happiness today, but I imagine your future should concern you. Suppose you become ill and can’t work anymore? What will you do when you are too old to work and have no retirement funds to live off?” As the lady carried on with her calamity-filled hypothetical scenarios, Mary abruptly interrupted her: “Stop! I never suppose anything,” she cried. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want! It is all the supposing that makes people miserable. I choose to work joyfully and hard today, trusting that God will provide tomorrow as he does today.”

A similar story illustrated my devotional time one morning last week. As it usually happens, it was exactly what I needed to read in preparation for my day. Later that afternoon, I received some unexpected news regarding an important event in my life, something that would usually bring me great anxiety and stress. As I heard the bad news, I could feel my heart start beating faster, as anxious thoughts tried to steal my peace: “Suppose the worst happens?”As the first darkness tried to creep in, however, I stopped it at the door of my heart: “No!” I said to myself. “God has got this covered. I refuse to allow anything to steal my joy.”

As I deliberately started recalling the amazing doors God has opened for me in the last few years, my heart started to settle, in agreement with all I know about my God. Suddenly, an amazing peace fell over my soul. I knew it – God is still on the throne and he promised to never leave me, nor forsake me. That promise has been tested and proven in my darkest valleys. It won’t be different this time. It shall never change.

We live in a worry-filled world. More than ever before, our lives are permeated with uncertainties. If we focus on the dreadful news around the globe or the bleak reality of some of our portfolios, we are liable to start hyperventilating at any given moment.

Learning how to bridge the twelve-Inch gap between brain and heart has transformed me from a fearful and anxious person to one who has been able to live in victory through life’s darkest valleys. Emotions are a wonderful thing, and God has certainly created us with the capability to love and trust, but also to hate and fear. I have seen many people give in to their negative emotions and settle for living in misery. I was certainly a candidate to be one of them. But some time ago, I chose to fill my mind with God’s truth and started telling my heart what to believe. It has been a journey of self-awareness and surrender to a God who can change even the hardest of hearts. Today, instead of panicking with bad news, I choose to tell my heart how to feel, knowing that I serve a God who has not failed me yet and believing he never will.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author and national conference speaker. You can now pre-buy her first book, “12 Inches: Bridging the Gap Between What You Know about God and How You Feel” at Barnes & Nobles online and Amazon.com. Visit her blog to read her devotionals at www.soaringwithhim.com or email her at pholbrook@soaringwithhim.com.

The post God’s Joy Can Shine Amidst Crisis (Atlanta Journal Constitution Column) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Click Here to Print PDF:  My Christmas Letter to Jesus 2014

Passage: Romans 8:31-39

Key Verse: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (v.32)

My heart sings this morning. Two days ‘til Christmas and I feel overwhelmed by the sense of belonging. God’s surrounding love makes my spirit soar. For each blessing I count for this past year, an old assurance echoes in my heart like a mantra: He never leaves His children alone in the dark valleys.

I know it. And I’m here to testify.

I just finished reading the letter I wrote to Jesus last Christmas. I remember the heaviness that brought me to write it on Christmas day 2013. It had been another very difficult year. I had gone through cancer the year before. We had a tragic death in the family just two months after the cancer surgery. As 2013 came along and other trials knocked at my door, I started having neurological symptoms that left doctors puzzled. I had no answers. Only frustration and worsening symptoms.

When December came, I felt so very discouraged. Depressed even. It was then that I wrote the letter, bringing all my weakness and sadness and laying them down at the feet of the Tree.  With the pain that overpowered me, a new crossroad was before me. Would I trust Him… or would I rebel?

I remember the sense of awesome confidence Christmas morning brought. After many months in the darkness, I felt a supernatural assurance that God was with me, in spite of my “feelings”. That He had a purpose for that trial. As He always did.

And so I chose to trust Him. I chose to tell my heart who my God is. The Great I Am could not change. He would not. I would choose to trust and wait. Listen to His voice and obey.  And when I felt like giving up, when my body felt too weak to even try, I would tell my heart how to feel: “He is faithful, Heart, remember? He promised He’d use everything for my good and His glory. He has done it in the past. He’ll do it again.”

Bible verses were posted in 3×5 cards all over my house. My Bible received new highlights. Old passages became new again. Instead of giving in to the overpowering feelings of weaknesses, I told my heart to believe the things I read.

I look back and my heart sings for joy as I see what He has done.

I didn’t know it on that Christmas morning, but the lesson I was learning through that trial was key to the blessings that Yahweh was about to send my way in the New Year.

He paralyzed me so I would listen. I didn’t like it. I hated it, really.

But I chose to become still, and therefore know (experience) that He is indeed God (Psalm 46:20).

So I write another letter to Jesus today. It’s also my encouragement to you, Reader, who may find yourself at a crossroad as I was, exactly one year ago. You may be facing a trial that seems to be too much to bear. Your health may be failing. Or someone you love may have left you. Your finances may be crumbling or your marriage may be a mess and in shambles. Listen to my words in this letter and take courage:

My Sweet Savior… My Conquering King,

I am overwhelmed by your goodness this morning.

You are beautiful. Your loving-kindness, patience and love for Your children never cease to amaze me.

I write this letter today to thank You and to shout out to the world about Your faithfulness.

Last year I brought a heavy box as a gift to You, dear Friend. It was loaded with pain and sorrow. I laid it by your Tree that Christmas morning and chose to praise You, even though I felt like crying.

Because I chose to trust, you turned my mourning into dancing and my sadness into joy (Psalm 30:11). You have poured down unbelievable blessings on my life this past year. You have graced me with gifts that I never dreamed I would have this time last year.

And as Jehovah Rapha, You healed me again. Your healed my body.  More importantly, You soothed my aching soul with the balm of your love.

This morning I bring you Joy.  That’s all I have for you, dear Jesus. No, life is not perfect. It’s perfectly imperfect. But because I have you, I have everything. I know it, Jesus. Best of all, my heart knows it.

It’s amazing what You do when we choose to trust You in spite of our circumstances.

As I sing your praises today, I pray this message will encourage some of Your children who are walking valleys too hard to bear alone.

Teach them to sing in spite of, Sweet Jesus.

Teach them to look beyond the Now and into Eternity, where Your love transcends all earthly matters. 

Encourage them to keep their eyes on You, Jesus… ‘til you bring them out of the valley they’re in. For I KNOW  that You will.

Help them to see that the gifts You have for each one of your trusting children are beautiful. These gifts go far beyond any earthly pleasure or relief. They build your children’s character for eternity. They’re Heavenly treasures, those which “moths and vermin do not destroy, and which thieves can’t steal (Matthew 6:20).

I praise You, my Jesus. Thank you for leaving Heaven to come to this fallen world to save us from Hell… and from ourselves.

Thank You for giving true Joy for those who trust You. For Your Joy is better than happiness.

Better than any earthly comfort or gift.

Merry Christmas, Sweet Savior. Merry Christmas, my Friend.

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