"Our Perplexing Trials"

I am reading J.I. Packer's book Knowing God. It is proving to be excellent pre-summer reading, reinforcing much of what I've been coming to understand about God over the past few years, illuminating some new themes and ideas, helping me to delve deeper into Scripture, and frequently helping me to approach situations that arise on a daily basis in a more clear-minded and God-centered way. The following words, from a section entitled "Our Perplexing Trials", ring especially true as we continue to wait on God's provision for housing for our New Orleans YouthWorks site:

Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility or meekness, by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under especially difficult conditions. Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency, or unreality, or undetected forms of pride or conceit. Perhaps his purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy the greatest, when the cross is heaviest. Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling...

But how are we to meet these baffling and trying situations, if we cannot for the moment see God's purpose in them? First, by taking them as from God, and asking ourselves what reactions to them, and in them, the gospel of God requires of us; second, by seeking God's face specifically about them.

Lord, I don't want to pretend as if waiting on housing in New Orleans is the greatest trial I will ever endure - far from it, I'm sure. Nonetheless, I thank you for strengthening me through this process, for constantly teaching me new lessons in self-distrust, and for drawing me into deeper communion with and dependence on you. This is indeed vivid and sweet fellowship.