Our trials are great opportunities, but all too often we simply see them as large obstacles. If only we would recognize every difficult situation as something God has chosen to prove His love to us, each obstacle would then become a place of shelter and rest, and a demonstration to others of His inexpressible power.

If we would look for the signs of His glorious handiwork, then every cloud would indeed become a rainbow, and every difficult mountain path would become one of ascension, transformation, and glorification.

If we would look at our past, most of us would realize that the times we endured the greatest stress and felt that every path was blocked were the very times our heavenly Father chose to do the kindest things for us and bestow His richest blessings.

God’s most beautiful jewels are often delivered in rough packages by very difficult people, but within the package we will find the very treasures of the King’s palace and the Bridegroom’s love. A. B. SIMPSON

We must trust the Lord through the darkness, and honor Him with unwavering confidence even in the midst of difficult situations. The reward of this kind of faith will be like that of an eagle shedding its feathers is said to receive—a renewed sense of youth and strength. J. R. MACDUFF

If we could see beyond today As God can see; If all the clouds should roll away, The shadows flee; O’er present griefs we would not fret. Each sorrow we would soon forget, For many joys are waiting yet For you and me.

If we could know beyond today As God does know, Why dearest treasures pass away And tears must flow; And why the darkness leads to light, Why dreary paths will soon grow bright; Some day life’s wrongs will be made right, Faith tells us so.

“If we could see, if we could know,” We often say, But God in love a veil does throw Across our way; We cannot see what lies before, And so we cling to Him the more, He leads us till this life is o’er; Trust and obey.