How do you know if you have experienced growth through your trials? It’s no secret that the Christian life will be full of trouble. Jesus himself says that in this life we will have trouble. Jesus also had to endure the trial of the crucifixion. Paul was denied the removal of a thorn so that Christ’s strength could be made perfect in his weakness. So we will surely have trials and troubles in this life. But how do you know if they have produced growth?
The best way to tell is your perspective. Towards the end of the trial there will be a marked difference in how you feel about and view your circumstances. There will also be a deeper awareness the things of the Lord. This can be the ability to identify with passages of scripture or songs you couldn’t before or even just a heightened awareness of your need for God.
Have you ever had a hymn resonate so deeply that it felt like you could have written the words? That shows growth and being aware of it is God’s goodness in action! Music that stops you in your tracks and brings on worship and praise definitely feels like Gods goodness to me! That has been my favorite way I have experienced God’s goodness recently.
I played a cd this past week that the boys received over the summer after a VBS program. The song that touched me the most was There’s Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus. It is one of the gospel greats and one that has a deeper and deeper meaning the longer you walk with the Lord. As we listened, I was struck by the fact that the longer we walk with the Lord, the more trials we walk through as well as the closer we draw near to Him, the more the great hymn lyrics and even the Psalms become part of our own testimony. That growth, of course, is a direct result of the trials we experience. It’s purely God’s grace that brings about the growth that adds to our testimony and a distinct gift from Him anytime we have insight into the why behind the what of our circumstances.
I want to leave the lyrics of the hymn that touched me the most this week here for you with a link to listen to it. The best version I could find was the VBS one that we have been listening to. I hope it encourages you and makes you feel loved by the Almighty God as much as it did me.
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases
No, not one! no, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done;
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus
No, not one! no, not one!
No friend like Him is so high and holy
No, not one! no, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly
No, not one! no, not one!
There’s not an hour that he is not near us
No, not one! no, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us
No, not one! no, not one!
Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
No, not one! no, not one!
Will he refuse us a home in heaven?
No, not one! no, not one!
Those are beautiful thoughts and promises that we can cling to throughout our lives regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. Theres truly no friend like Him, no time He’s not near us, guiding us or loving us and no sickness beyond His healing reach. He is ever present and always in control. Those are all amazing examples of God’s goodness that we can use to compare our daily experiences with as we look for His goodness in our lives each day.
It’s hard to believe that February is almost over! If you want to do the God’s Goodness Challenge with me and haven’t signed up yet, sign up here for your free March printable and (*just about*) weekly emails as we explore God’s goodness and love together. I’d love to have you join me!
Leave me a comment below with your favorite way God has shown you His goodness this week. I’d love to hear about it!
I hope you have a blessed week aware of God’s goodness and love!
