Author Darlene J Conard

“Lord, I thank You for every trial. I thank You for they have caused me to draw closer to You. I thank You for planting my feet here in my town. Thank you for every closed door that’s escorted by an open door. Thank You for the good and bad experiences; through them, I’ve witnessed Your faithfulness, love, mercy, and grace. Thank You, Lord, for trusting me with it all. Father, thank You for having confidence in me when I or others haven’t.”

  ^“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Giving thanks for trials, diverse temptations, closed doors, or betrayal to me didn’t feel like a celebration in the least. It took something devastating to teach me -why and how- giving thanks for such things is a powerful tool.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:2-4 KJV

It indicates that “I’m on the right track.” You’re on the right track!  Fiery trials will either make or break us.

Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days to gain power over self-will. The devil tempted him three times. First, he drew him to turn stones into bread, but it didn’t work. Secondly, he carried Jesus to the Pinnacle of the temple at a terrifying height: a 450-foot drop down to the valley below. Research it; its equivalents can be compared to a 45-story building. “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written, (here we go) “He shall give His angels charge over you, and in their hands, they shall bear You up, in case you dash your foot against a stone.” Thirdly, he carries Jesus to the Bible on an exceedingly high mountain, saying, “All this I’ll give You, the world and all its glory if You bow to me. Each time, Jesus hit him with the word. Satan used, -if- if You are the Son of God to hopefully manipulate Him into taking the bait. He also used “for it is written.” Satan knows the word well. He twists it deviously, making it sound like the truth. That’s why it’s so important to stay in prayer. Let our ears and hearts be sensitive to the distinct sound of God’s voice. Know the Bible, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1). Satan believes the word more than we do. That’s why he manipulates our weakness. He knows that getting on our knees and earnestly praying will change us and those around us.  

Every trial that’s come my way has taught me just how faithful He is. It taught me to empty myself to fill overflowing with Him. They have caused me to draw nearer to Him. He will envelop us with His gentle embrace. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” … James 4:8

Jesus could eat after the fast. Satan wanted Him to stop. He knew afterward he and his demons would be evicted, cast out of those he possessed. (Paraphrasing) Jesus, if You are who You -say -You are, jump off this 450-foot temple. Angels will speedily come to our rescue.” Bloodshed, he knew that Jesus’ blood had power. As far as Satan handing Him the world and all its glory, He didn’t need it. Jesus knew, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  (Matthew 6:9) The Son of God was tempted with suicide. I say suicide because Satan knew God should not be drawn.

My point in speaking of this is Satan knows that God has a plan. He believes it more than we do. If we pray, seeking God’s face, the trial will make us a better person, closer to God .

In the depths of my soul, I knew that giving thanks for trials and temptations seemed paradoxical, almost counterintuitive. But it was through these fiery tests that I learned the true power of gratitude. For in the face of adversity, my faith had been tested and refined, forging a patience and strength within me that I never knew existed.

Like Jesus wandering in the wilderness, fasting and praying for forty days, I too had faced the temptations of self-will. The devil, crafty and sly, sought to entice me with his tantalizing offers. But I stood strong, just as Jesus did, armed with the word of God as my shield. The devil twisted the scripture, using it as a snare to catch me in his web of deceit. But I resolutely clung to prayer, discerning the true voice of God amidst the noise.

Through these trials and tests, I had tasted the goodness of the Lord, experienced His unwavering love and boundless grace. Each hurdle had brought me closer to Him, for when I drew near to God, He drew near to me, enveloping me in His gentle embrace. It was in the midst of these storms that I emptied myself, allowing His presence to fill me to overflowing.

But let me not forget that the devil, too, had his motives and schemes. He knew that God had a divine plan for me, a destiny that he sought to hinder and sabotage. Yet, he believed in God’s plan more fervently than I did. This revelation struck me like a lightning bolt, awakening me to the importance of prayer. Satan knew that when we kneel before the Lord in earnest supplication, powerful transformation occurs within us and those around us.

And so, I embraced each trial as a springboard for growth, as an opportunity to draw nearer to the One who holds all things in His hands. For every closed door was but a prelude to an open one, and every trial was but a steppingstone towards perfection and wholeness.

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