storms of life

Just when you think you have hit rock bottom that nothing could get worse, your husband comes home and tells you that he lost his job. I just sat and cried and tried to beg that he really didn't just tell me that. I can only imagine what a long drive home for my sweet husband, knowing he would have to tell me that he lost his job.
The words just don't come out anymore, tears are much easier these days. We thanked God everyday for his job and the insurance it provided. Now we just thank God that we have each other to get through this pouring rain storm in our life.  "Challenges often come in multiple doses simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (Proverbs 3:11-12). We are given experiences in this life to stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish us for everlasting benefit."-Richard G. Scott. To get me from where I am to where the Lord wants me it requires stretching and that really does entail discomfort and pain. I know and have faith that my Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ love me perfectly. I also know that they would not require me to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for my personal growth. Understating the nature of this journey makes all the difference. When we face adversity it's easy to ask yourself "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to cause this? Why does no one else suffer like me? But it really does no good to ask these questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. About 11 years ago, I was young and devastated over another huge rain storm in my life and I asked "why me?", but I have learned it doesn't help to feel sorry for yourself.  The compassion, the love, the understanding that I now have of those who go through divorce and heart ache is something I wouldn't change. I am here to do extraordinary things but to become the person my Heavenly Father sees I can become, he must polish me, I must be refined. No pain we suffer, no trial we experience is wasted. It builds our education, patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially if we endure with patience will build our character, purifies our hearts and expands our souls. I know that these trials help me to be more tender and to serve others more abundantly. I know that during these hard days it's not easy to think about the benefits that we will get in the end, but it does give us faith and strength to know we are not alone. How could I expect to sail through life with no trials, no adversity, no pain or suffering? It's just not that easy. So for today we pray that we have each other and our friends and family who have supported us so much. We pray for patience as we endure these storms in our life. We continue to just make it through the next day, one foot in front of the other. We pray for those tender mercies, the opening in the dark gray cloud where the blue sky shines through. We will continue to hold each other tight and protect each other from the storms that come pour out onto us.