This week, I had the opportunity to support a dear friend as she questioned whether or not she should confront her husband.  She was uncomfortable with his interactions with a female co-worker.  She came to a place of wondering if she truly trusted him.I felt so blessed to be a person she felt she could confide in during this time.  Once again, a time when God has allowed me to take what I have experienced and use it for good.I had to be very careful not to project my experiences onto my friend.  I didn’t want to assume the worst of her husband.  I wanted to look with a discriminating eye.  And present both sides to her as she chose her next steps.And deep down, I just wanted her to ask him for the truth.  Because the truth always sets us free.  Even if the truth turns ugly.And she chose to ask him the hard questions.  And I found out this morning that his truth wasn’t ugly.  It was beautiful to her.  And with tears in his eyes, he told her that satan isn’t messing with their marriage, absolutely nothing will mess it up.As I let out a sigh of relief, I also felt a pain in my heart.  And I started to wonder, “God, what is this?  Why this pain?  Is this another one of these wounds that needs to be healed?  Please no!”So, I started to process, as I was changing Harry’s diaper.  And this is what I was asking:  Why didn’t my husband protect our marriage?  Why didn’t my husband have that resolve?Please don’t misunderstand me…I am incredibly thankful that my past didn’t become her present.  In fact, I was pleading with God for it not to be and would have been quite angry if it had become her reality.And as I continued to ponder these questions, I heard God say:It’s because I love you.And once again, I’m brought to a place of realizing that what God allowed was for my good.  Peace.And this is the truth:  whether your reality is messy or pretty, He loves us just the same.  And when we go through trials, when we are walking in the wilderness, that doesn’t mean that he has forsaken us.  In fact, the Bible says just the opposite.  It is during these times that God is doing his best work in us.  Growing us.  Stretching us.  Never leaving us.Such a mental mind-shift for me.  To consider the trials we go through, the days in the wilderness, to be the times in life where we are the lucky ones.

James 1:2  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Do you agree with this perspective?  Or is it hard for you to swallow?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!