Thankful For The Trials
Facing Tough Situations Is Like Climbing Mt. Everest
When we are faced with difficult situations in life, we often feel as though we’re inexperienced climbers trying to make our way on top of Mt. Everest. We feel inadequate, we see no hope in ever reaching our dreams.
Problems overwhelm us that we can’t wait to get out where we are. We want all our trials to be over. We want our problems to be solved. We want to be able to teleport ourselves straight towards the top of the mountain even without undergoing the difficult climb.
We Can’t Survive The Mountain Top
Our problem is that even if we could be teleported straight on top of Mt. Everest, we wouldn’t survive it once we get there. Did you know that if a person were to be directly lifted from sea level and placed on top of Mt. Everest, that person would most probably die? This is because the body has not been able to gradually adjust (or “acclimatize”) to such a high altitude environment.
Per Wikipedia, “acclimatization to high altitude continues for months or even years after initial ascent, and ultimately enables humans to survive in an environment that, without acclimatization, would kill them.”
Even climbers spend weeks trying to acclimatize to this very high altitude. They don’t risk their own lives by going straight towards the top of Mt. Everest.
Many times however, that’s what we want to do. We want to take shortcuts, routes that we think would give us immediate success but ultimately leads only to our failure.
The Climb Prepares Us For The Peak
The training we need to do and the difficult task of slowly climbing and adjusting to the new altitude are the things that prepare us for the tougher climate at the top.
Further, it’s the experience of our journey and perseverance which gives us a sweeter victory once we are able to reach our goal. We can’t cheat our triumphs, because true success is the transformation that took place in our own hearts.
Without this transformation, we’d immediately lose all the material things we wanted to acquire. Imagine winning a big amount of money without knowing how to wisely manage it. Without the right knowledge and preparation, we’d only lose everything as quickly as we’ve gained it!
Gratitude For The Climb
It is said that one of the best qualities of a successful person is gratitude. But how could we feel grateful when we’re jobless, or heartbroken, or lost?
The key is in knowing what purposes such trials render to our lives. What is the meaning of this difficult situation in your life? How could it strengthen you? How could it prepare you for the kind of life you’re dreaming of?
We can be grateful even for trials that come our way. Thankful for the opportunity to change, to be wiser, to be tougher, we can live the difficult moment as though we’re the hero in our own movie where we are being challenged to rise beyond our fears and our hurts.
Don’t jump towards the end without witnessing where the hero’s power really came from. Thankful for the trials, it is the fire that gave the phoenix a brand new life!
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. -Psalm 126:5
Check Jocelyn's books:
"Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief", "Mend My Broken Heart", "Questions to God", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", and more - click here.
(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)
8 replies on “Thankful For The Trials”
Your post is such an inspiration, it gives me peace of mind. I am now in the midst of obstacles in life and I don’t know how to overcome it. I would love to go back here to read more of your blogs. Thanks!
@Xiname – Do keep in touch. 😉 We’re all here to help each other out, and your feedback has brought a smile upon my face today.
Hey Joyce!
I really admire and appreciate your thoughts,You have nailed it dear….everyone wants to get success without any efforts,they only see the shine of an event but they always ignore the journey behind it.”You just can’t gain anything without pain”…this is an universal truth,we have to accept this and realize our responsibilities towards our goals.There is no need to afraid of failures,failure is a gem stone of the success road.It teaches us that what we are doing wrong at the moment and what are the things to be justified for the next time.Awwww Joyce i m really feeling very glad to found you here.You are doing such a great job by posting a reality of life.
THANK YOU and GOD BLESS
@Manish2010 – You’re very much welcome! May the trials in our life help us to become better and more willing to be generous of all that we have learned and received. God bless you too!
Great thoughts! and i also agree with it with out the trails you will never be a strong persons.and with the trails we learn many things to be strong struggle our life.we are looking forward to read more about your article i find it very interesting one. thank you!
@Rose Marie – That’s right, Rose. Our trials definitely make us stronger, and a lot more capable of loving more. 😉
Hi Joyce,
thank you for this post. I really admire your thoughts. I’m so thankful with the trials that I have. In the past, I really don’t know how to handle problems. I always see myself as the weakest and unfortunate individual ever. I really hate myself because even I try so hard, still, it’s not enough. I’m asking myself what’s wrong with me? Am I a bad person to deal with this kind of dilemma? As I’ve seen myself I have the compassion to others and also being fair to them, but I’m still dying inside and living on this darkest room of my life. This is me in the past. After experiencing one of the greatest downfall in my life, having some tears in my eyes, on that time honestly, I hear nothing and the environment was so dull and empty. But the Lord carry me just like the man on the poem footprints in the sand. Even though I’m still struggling, I really thank our Father for giving me this kind of trials and I’m always telling to myself God loves us and there’s a reason for everything. Let’s surrender and obey the will of our Lord Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.
@Leil – Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom, Leil. And also for replying to one of our readers who need advice from people like you. Our struggles may not be over yet, but our strength to overcome them is also being increased by God’s Grace from day to day. May God continue to bless us and shower us with His love!