A Noble Woman Enduring Trials.

God prepared us for the trial we would be walking through today. 

A noble woman is strong, courageous, humble and walks with her head held high through the trial. She laughs at the days to come. 

I sit in my apartment I tend to call my "prison" and I complain about the long hallway, the long frigid walk to the car, the hassle it is to get a baby bundled up for that long walk, the struggle it is just to go grocery shopping and I am not being a noble woman.

 "my prison bars"

It's easy to want a different life, hard to live the life you've been given.

Satan distracts us. If he can get our minds on the life we wish we had and off living the life we were given then he knows he has us right where he wants us.

I walk through this trial and wish for a different life. Enduring brutal cold winters is the furthest life from the life I always wished I would have. 

God knew the trial I would be walking through today and He prepared me for these very trials. He could have easily given me an easy life or the life I thought I wanted. He could've taken my life on a easier road, but He didn't. God split the seas for the Isrealites, destroyed their enemies, delivered them from slavery and then let them sit in the desert for 40 years. He could've taken them straight into the promised land. He could've made their path very easy, but He didn't. 

We can complain and cry when we're walking in the midst of trial, we can beg God to deliver us from the suffering, but God takes us through the trials so we will praise Him IN the midst of the trial. He wants us to walk with STRENGTH, face the trial with COURAGE, go before God in HUMILITY and recognize our need for Him. 

James says when we are walking through a trial to consider it GREAT JOY. God is testing and stretching our endurance, refining and building our character. We should see that as exciting, we should be happy and giddy that God would care about us that much to grow us. 

So HOW do I look out my "prison" and be happy and giddy? 
HOW do I walk the long hallway with great joy?
Answer: turn my prison into praise
Praise God for the bitter cold, praise God for the gloomy day, praise God for the quiet apartment, praise Him and thank Him in the moment.

And focus on the blessings.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12