Be committed to a body of believers. God does not mean for us to endure suffering on our own. When the Israelites were fighting Amalek, they were only victorious as long as Moses was raising up his arms. But he grew weary in the battle and needed the help of Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms when he lost strength (Exodus 17:8–13). Who will come to your aid when the road gets tough? In the book of 1 Peter, we’re exhorted to respond to the difficulties in our lives in a completely foreign and counter-cultural way:

Peter is calling us to have a heavenward focus in this life. Trials will surely come, and we should not be caught off guard. In fact, they’re the very thing God uses to test our faith. I loved how she used 1 Corinthians 10:13 ("There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.") as a theme verse, and I was so uplifted by that promise over and over again in each chapter. I would say I loved this book, but I'm not sure how much I love conviction!! ;) Needless to say, this author has done it again for me with her powerful Christian encouragement and Christ-like focus. Pray for perseverance. Call upon the only one who can sustain you with grace in the midst of your difficulty. Pray “at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . . Keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).We’re talking about trials far more severe than a rained-out picnic. And yet, even here, complaints of soggy sandwiches and parkside puddles reveal our sinful sense of entitlement towards having our “rights” fulfilled. And when we don’t get them, we can have our own temper tantrums in a hundred different ways. Rejoicing to Share with Christ Expect suffering. Each time a hardship enters our lives, we’re reminded that this world is not our home. We are broken people living in a broken, sin-filled world. If we try to make our lives into a heaven-on-earth, we’ll surely be disappointed. So I love this book because it's powerful and useful, but the truths presented are only really encouraging if we apply them to our lives! A couple years ago, our six-year-old daughter came home from school and announced, “Miss H. says she’s not tying any more shoes after Christmas.” Which meant we had better start practicing! “David started to fuss and whine about needing help with his shoes, and Miss H. said, ‘David, life is full of hard things.’ That’s what she says all the time.”

Look for reasons to rejoice. My natural reaction to suffering is to feel sorry for myself and complain. But when I can catch myself heading down that downward spiral, I combat it with making a simple list of five things to be grateful for. Remembering God’s blessings can help us keep the right perspective, even in the midst of hardships. I love her step-by-step guides for things. I am planning on copying some of them and hanging them around my room. They are practical ways of applying the Bible. Who of us can say we couldn’t use that kind of help?I am always blessed when I open one of George’s books. This was no exception. I was going through a couple of rough weeks, and I needed this book to remind me of the truths about trials. Too often, I can feel like a victim, focus on my own pain, and justify my own sinful reactions. This book reminded me to consider it all joy, and gave practical ways to do that. Elizabeth also encourages women through her radio broadcast, “A Minute for Busy Women,” featured on Christian radio stations across America and at www.OnePlace.com. She is also a regular keynote speaker at women’s conferences and retreats. This reality raises the question of how we deal with such hardships when they arise. Will we shut down in discouragement when things do not go our way or persevere in faith through whatever trial is on our path? In Elisabeth Elliot’s classic book Keep a Quiet Heart, she reminds us, “When Paul and Silas were in prison, they prayed and sang. It isn’t troubles that make saints, but their response to troubles.” Troubled Grumblers

And we are not just to endure the hardships, but actually rejoice in the very suffering we experience, knowing that through suffering hard things in this life, we taste a small portion of the bitter cup Jesus endured when he was hung on the cross for the sake of our sins. God is using this difficulty to shape us to be more like his Son. Be Prepared for Fiery Trials Know God’s word. Fight the fight of faith by studying, meditating on, and treasuring the promises of God’s word. A closed Bible will yield little hope or strength for our journey. Arm yourselves with the sword of the Spirit to fight the battle well, for our battle is spiritual, and requires weapons of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:12, 17). Even in the devastating trauma of miscarriage we can stretch out sinful, grasping hands when we interrogate God for blessing others with multiple children, while we’re left with empty arms. So if we’re not to be surprised when difficult things come into our lives, the implication is that we should be prepared. Consider six ways to be ready when trails appear.Elizabeth George is bestselling author and national speaker dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. For over 30 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth has helped countless men and women: Christians are not exempt from troubles. In fact, we’re promised troubles for the very fact that we follow Christ (John 15:20). Yet often, our responses to the trials in our lives reveal that we think we deserve something better. Overall this book helped me to see that these trials WILL are for my good, and not my harm. It gave me a deeper understand of not only how, but why, I can count every trial as a joy. Suffering does not exempt us from doing good for others. Keep reaching out, keep praying for others, keep looking for ways to bless and encourage someone else in the midst of their difficult time. Rejoice in Hard Things