Instead of counting your trials and indulging in dark forebodings, throw
away such feelings by counting your past blessings if you can think of
no present blessings. When Paul and Silas were in prison with their feet
fastened in the stocks, the pain in their lacerated backs no doubt often
reminded them of the cruel treatment they had received at the hands of
their enemies; but they looked away from their trials, and, "counting
all things joy," at the midnight hour they were rejoicing, singing songs,
and praising God. The result was marvelous. Had they set themselves to
complaining, they would have spent a miserable night.
A sister was once just at the point of throwing down her shield of faith
and ceasing her efforts in serving the Lord, because of some difficulty
which had arisen between her husband and one of the brethren, and in
which in a sense she also was involved. She had always entertained
implicit confidence in the brother, but now said she could never have
confidence in him again. Had it been some worldly person, she could
have overlooked the matter, but to have one of the brethren make such
statements was more than she could endure. However, she relented, and
before she could gain the necessary victory, she had to make a decision
to stand true to God regardless of the source of the trial.
At this point is where many fail, not because the trial is greater than
some other through which they have passed, but because it comes from an
entirely unexpected source.