Have You Thanked God In This?

At first thought this question is strange, perhaps leaning more toward dumb. Your world is crashing down around you and some blogger on the other side of the internet wants to know if "Have you thanked God in this?".

Of course not! Why would I thank God for the trouble? For the mistakes that got my son on his way to jail. The lost job that has led to financial problems. The lost loved one. The deserted friend. The leaking roof and the broken down car. Why would I?

An old friend of mine liked to say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. That's not quite right. Its your reaction to the pain that makes the difference. I love the idea of working out, but the second day when I roll out of bed and my legs don't want to work because they are so sore, and all I want to do is stay in bed- here is where your choice lies, press through the pain or give up and maybe grow bitter.  I have to say I am very guilty of the latter.

No one likes pain, if change didn't require pain well lets just say we'd all look like super models. But alas it does (Kissing the image of me strutting down the runway- and the face plant I would do when my heel got caught on the carpet goodbye). Pain means you are challenging yourself. Your striving for better.

When life gets rough, all it means is God's at work, and He is going to do something big. You just have to trust Him. So... have you thanked Him in all of this?