I’ve been home all week and haven’t blogged! I said to Bobby last night, “I want to write a blog tonight….ah, I’ll do it tomorrow.” But I don’t like it when I let a whole week go by because we shouldn’t put off to tomorrow what we could do today! It isn’t that I haven’t had things to write or even that I haven’t had time–I guess I’ve just been lazy.

I am really enjoying the changes that fall brings. The sun sets earlier, it’s much cooler out, and I have a pumpkin spice candle burning in the living room. I went through some boxes in our closet (yes, they had not been unpacked the last 5 months!) and got out our jackets and sweaters. Then I went through Tyler’s closet and pulled out the clothes that will fit him that are long sleeved, sweatshirts and sweaters. I know that we don’t really have drastic seasons here in California. I’m wearing long pants and a nice warm sweater today, but I’m still wearing my flip flops.

I’ve started reading a new book–Damsels in Distress: Biblical Solutions for Problems Women Face by Martha Peace. Bobby brought it back for me from the counseling conference I missed earlier this month. I’m enjoying Martha’s Biblical approach and how she gives confrontation where necessary and encouragement where necessary. Her writing has such a tone of care and compassion–I’m really enjoying the book!

I had been reading Romans 8:28 and in the first chapter she wrote about it!

We probably know that first part very well, but the rest of this passage we are not as familiar with. We usually cite God causes all things to work together for good and don’t even finish the sentence–to those who love God. Martha Peace writes–

Those who love God are Christians who obey His Word. As a result, God somehow supernaturally uses good as well as bad circumstances to help mold us into Christ like character. There is nothing, however painful, that we must go through in vain. God will not only help us, but He will also use all things for our good and for His glory.(p. 18)

The thought that stood out the most was that there is nothing however painful, that we must go through in vain. It can be easy amidst a painful experience to feel as though God has forsaken me, but that is far from the truth. He is even using that experience to teach me and mold me. That is why James says we should be joyful in our trials.

Our joy is not in the pain of the trial, but in the sure hope that God is using the trials to work together for good as we are obedient to Him.