Lessons from the Journey

"Don't squeeze the Charmin?"  I say squeeze the heck out of it!  When pressure is applied... one's true colors come out.  Where it is natural to wish against pain; it is unavoidable.  See,trials are brilliantly disguised as opportunities to display the legitimacy of our relationships with God.  

"...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". (1 Peter 1:6-7) 

To me this has an interesting connection to Jesus' challenge to His followers to love their enemies because even the pagans love those who like them.  Whether it is by loving our enemies or by enduring hardships God receives glory when we have the right approach.  An alternative view is seeing that our trials are bigger than simply surviving them but rather while standing in the dark of a trial the light at the end of the tunnel is what we chase, God's glory!