The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry I’m doing a writing challenge and am supposed to write a short story about a trail. Trail ….. hmmmm what can I write about a trail? Am I on a particular trail right at the moment? How would I define that trail? A dirt trail, an asphalt trail, a long………?
Oh! Hey! Wait a minute. I look again, the word isn’t trail, it’s trial. Quite a huge difference there. How funny. The words look so much alike, it’s easy to mistake one for the other at first glance.
So, now curious, I decide to consult Merriam Webster for definitions of each word. One of the ways trial is defined is “a test of the value, quality or usefulness of something.” In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence).
One of the meanings, among others, I come upon for trail is to “walk or move slowly or wearily”. Interesting. Isn’t that what it feels like when I’m going through a trial? Like I’m moving ever so slowly and feeling oh so weary?
I have to wonder if that’s what God has in mind when He allows me to go through a trial. As I move ever so slowly on this trail, painfully weary, thinking that no possible good can ever from this current, burdensome trial in my life, is He testing my value, my quality, my usefulness? Are we, (He and I) in concert, disputing information that makes absolutely no sense to me at the time, but that has divine meaning to Him in the light of eternity?
James 1:2-4 tells us “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (KJV)
Various kinds of trials. Count them all joy? Is He kidding me? Trials hurt, they cause me to question His goodness.
Are these trials a result of the current trail that I’m traveling on? Do I need to find a new trail? Where would I find such a trail?
In Psalm 119:105 I read “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
Proverbs 3:6 tells us “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
If I’m not mistaken, a path qualifies as a trail. So, if I’m reading this right, if I look to His Word and defer to His wisdom, I am assured that He will bring me through this trial no matter where the path (trail) leads me.
Whether I’m “on a trail” or “in a trial”, the end result is “Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
Hallelujah!
Beautiful said. We need to give pause to these very issues in life.
The scriptures have the answer we need.
We also see that even our Savior had trials. He had a face off with the devil in the desert after fasting forty days, the fact that His own brothers didn’t believe that He was their Messiah, the confrontations with the religious Pharisees, His agony in the garden where His sweat was as great drops of blood, the rejection of men even as He did many Miraculous deeds, and the wickedness of those that plotted His death.
Luke 22:39-46 (KJV)
22:39And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.40And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.41And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,42Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.43And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Christ was a man of sorrows. He tasted what we also have to endure in life. He identifies with us for this world is such a place that effects every life.
Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Praises to our King Redeemer that He was willing to come to us for us at such a high cost.
He gives us the trail to His kingdom as He is the way, the truth, and the life.
So whether we are going through trials or slowly passing through, we have all that we need in Him.
Hello Janene,
Nicely written, well said.
Thank you for sharing with us and in concluding with an important message for all.
Blessings~