Many times we question why something happens in our lives that bring us to our knees. Perhaps a person will have financial loss or difficulties; perhaps they will lose their job that they love, perhaps they will lose a friend or family member. It is times like these that bring us to our lowest and we are humbled and in despair. We realize how easy it was when we had our job, we didn’t need anything or anyone. We thought life goes on and on and we thought nothing bad will ever happen. We may think we are above needing anyone or anything. We may think everything is perfect and we feel at ease. Why pray? I see how God uses a tragedy or crises to get our attention.

Perhaps we may think we are at the highest we can get, nothing can bring us down. That is the place that I was once. I prayed, went to church, felt closest to God than ever before. Deep down, I didn’t think I could ever get closer to God than at that moment. It was then that my whole world fell apart. I experienced the worst year of my life. My friends started to talk about me, making up lies that weren’t true. Rumors of me doing unimaginable things were spread from ear to ear. People tried to get me fired from my job and rumors surfaced among my colleagues. People that I thought cared about me, were the ones that now acted like they hated me. I felt all alone. I thought God left me, for I couldn’t feel his presence anymore. My peace was gone; I was afraid to go to sleep.

Satan tried to deceive me into thinking God didn’t love me anymore. He come against me as hard as he possibly could. I knew what it felt like to be without God; I know I never want to experience that time again, ever. I prayed for months for answers. Why? Why was this happening to me? What did I do? I just wanted to be close to God, attend church and enjoy being a Christian. Months and months passed by when I finally realized that I was deceived by Satan himself. It wasn’t something I asked for, but it happened.  I thought I was above deception.

After reading scriptures, praying and attending church on a regular basis, God has shown me a few things. We are not perfect. We cannot live a perfect life in this flesh. The Bible says in the flesh, dwelleth no good thing (Romans 7:18). We must allow God to mold us into his image. We must allow him to make us fit for his purpose. He does that through teaching, guiding, directing us in our lives. Part of that comes from trials and tribulations that we must go through and endure in this life. God wants to make you a stronger Christian. He might test or strengthen your faith through different situations.

The advice I give you through what I had to experience in my tribulation is:

1. Always Trust God
2. Don’t ever give up
3. Keeping praying and seeking God
4. Don’t forsake God no matter what happens to you
5. Don’t ever think that God doesn’t care about you, because he loves you
6. If you fall, get back up and repent

Related scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:10-Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

1 Corinthians 1:27 -But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

2 Timothy 2:21- If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.