darkest times

Tuesday March 25^th, Romans 5: 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  There are experiences in my life that I am very happy to look back on, and wish not to repeat.  It is often not the easy times that define us and who we are as the children of God, but the difficult ones.  When we find ourselves stripped of all of our bravado and self-glorification and are left only with God in our darkest of times, that is when we know what true light in the darkness is.  When times of trouble come along, do not go it alone.  The rugged individualism of John Wayne ideal is not a Christian example.  Include the family of God, let the voice of God come through others as well as through your own personal prayer.  Then you will begin, at least for a brief moment, to see what God sees in you.  From that point you can often find the path where God has already come to meet you.