I am so grateful for my children. All five of them are unique in their own way and a blessing to me in many ways.

My children and I always talk. It is something I cherish because I did not have it with my parents. My youngest son, who is eight, likes to talk the most. For an eight-year-old, he has such profound insight and it amazes me. He reminds me of myself at that age as God allowed me to see things that most adults did not see. Unfortunately, I could not express what I saw. As a result of my experience, I allow my children to speak what is on their heart and mind…most of the time. 😊

A few days ago, my youngest and I were talking about his eldest brother who is twenty-five and experiencing his own life struggles. I said to him, “Your big brother is going through a lot right now.” He said, “I know, but people think life is over when bad things happen, but there is always a blessing after the bad.” I looked at him and told him he was correct!

Psalms 127:3 – “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him” (NLT).

God is amazing! He will use anyone to remind us of his word, even our children.
His statement was a reminder of God’s love, and grace towards us even in difficult times.

As Christians, we will endure trials because the Word tells us so. I Peter 1:6 says, “Be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while” (NLT).

However, when experiencing a trial, the difficulty comes when the trial lasts for more than a day, a week, a month or a year. The key to success while going through any trial is consistently praying and studying the Word of God.

God will use the most difficult times in our lives to stretch us in our spiritual walk and teach us how to trust him on a deeper level. We must keep our focus on Christ alone. If our focus shifts elsewhere, we open ourselves up to discouragement and feelings of defeat.

But I encourage you to stay with God. I thank God that negative circumstances are only designed to build us up, not to destroy us. The trial is only for a season. As my son Jeremiah said, “there is always a blessing after the bad.” When we come out on the other side of it, we will be better.  Job 23:10 says, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

These days, as we watch the news, we can be saddened and discouraged by what we see and hear. But we must remember God has a blessing after the bad.

John 16:33 – …“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (NIV).

Photo by Jeremy Gallman on Unsplash