I read something this morning that was more eye-opening than coffee: Did you know God puts you in places where you are expected to fail? It is just one of the many ways He proves His love. Your disappointment and discouragement are the Lord’s opportunities to show His power and love to you.

We were purposely given temporary bodies that are able to break easily, and that’s part of God’s plan. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor 4:7) It is in our disappointments and discouragements that the Lord’s opportunities to show His power through us really shine through.

This reminded me of the lyrics from one of my favorite Christian songs, Blessings. We ask the Lord for the things that will make our lives easier, but He “loves us way too much to give us lesser things. ‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops; What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy? And what if trials of this life-The rain, the storms, the hardest nights are Your mercies in disguise?”

And what if it takes the difficult things of this world to make us rely on the Lord instead of ourselves? “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) Perhaps the easiest thing isn’t what will build up my faith. These are especially the times that I must trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding (Prov 3:5). Thank You, Lord!