Today I am tired. Living in the northeastern United States, we had a ton of snow dumped on the region from the superstorm that rolled through this past weekend. I measured about 10 inches at my house. Today was the day to dig myself out, and that was no small feat.
In my younger days, back before I had my hip arthritis, digging out of 10+ inches of snow would have been easy. I would have seen it as a way to get some much-needed exercise. Being in better shape, I would have powered through it all in no time.
These days, that is no longer true. I was out scraping and shoveling for a couple of hours, needing to take short breaks more frequently than a few short years ago. It reminded me of how much I have changed. How much I have slowed down.
I pushed myself pretty hard out there today. I was able to shovel the length of a 3-car driveway almost completely clear. I also dug a truck and a minivan out from under all that snow—those vehicles hadn’t been moved since the storm began.
I left one spot unshoveled. For one, I ran out of steam. I didn’t have anything left. I also ran out of places to put the snow—the piles were getting too high. So I called it quits. But I live to shovel another day.
I am paying for it now. My hip is sore, my upper back aches, and my shoulders feel like lead. However, even in the ache, I am reminded of Isaiah 40:31:
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40:31 ESV)
In this life, we will face trials of all kinds. Some will be mental, some physical, and some spiritual. Yet, in every trial, God is with those who rely on Him. He never promises to spare us from trials, but He does promise to be with us through our trials.
Trials build strength of character. If everything were easy, we would never have a chance to grow and learn. We would not know our limits or how far past our own limits we could go. In the Bible, the refining of gold in the fire is used repeatedly to demonstrate how trials "burn" away the impurities and leave the best parts of us.
It’s like that in my current trial of unemployment. Even though I am uncertain of the future and there is mental pain during this trial, I know that waiting on God will always yield the best results. He is burning away what doesn't belong and leaving what is most valuable.
What’s one trial you’ve walked through that hurt in the moment, but left you stronger and more refined on the other side? I’d love to hear your story.
—Daniel