James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” The last several months have allowed me to work (more than I have in some time) on that command. I guess that may be the case for most of us. It is not one of my top 3 skills that I want to practice. While I have become accustomed to change – at work, in our family and even in our country – a situation that takes over a major portion of my thinking activity outside of work is rare for me. And right now that situation involves my aging parents and the need to decide on the best living arrangement for them. It is here that the perspectives of my parents and me are vastly different.

My prayers have led to surprises…not necessarily happy ones. Instead, I have been faced with confrontation, with feeling unappreciated, and have even been seen as the enemy. So, my patience and trust in God has been tested when my prayers haven’t been answered, or, haven’t been answered in a way that I thought would be best. Have I had some frustrating words with God? Absolutely! Am I learning joy in trials? Not quite yet! Is patience being produced through the testing of my faith? Well, there are some small buds. Can I trust God in all this? Because of my history of life under His wing – yes, I can.

I know God loves my parents as much as I do….and so much more. It has been said that life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. We are all on our own journey of learning to trust God with our difficult circumstances and truly understanding that He knows best.

I look to this season, before we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, and am reminded of His willingness to suffer, taking on my sins and shortcomings onto Himself on the cross. I can live as Paul shares in Roman 8:18 “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” And Jesus said in John 8 “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of Life.” It is He who lights our path, in His time, not ours. I am praying that I will remember that as I trust, wait and walk through each day in His light, love and presence.