And we are not just to endure the hardships, but actually rejoice in the very suffering we experience, knowing that through suffering hard things in this life, we taste a small portion of the bitter cup Jesus endured when he was hung on the cross for the sake of our sins. God is using this difficulty to shape us to be more like his Son. Be Prepared for Fiery Trials We’re talking about trials far more severe than a rained-out picnic. And yet, even here, complaints of soggy sandwiches and parkside puddles reveal our sinful sense of entitlement towards having our “rights” fulfilled. And when we don’t get them, we can have our own temper tantrums in a hundred different ways. Rejoicing to Share with Christ

Even in the devastating trauma of miscarriage we can stretch out sinful, grasping hands when we interrogate God for blessing others with multiple children, while we’re left with empty arms. Overall this book helped me to see that these trials WILL are for my good, and not my harm. It gave me a deeper understand of not only how, but why, I can count every trial as a joy. Peter is calling us to have a heavenward focus in this life. Trials will surely come, and we should not be caught off guard. In fact, they’re the very thing God uses to test our faith.

Expect suffering. Each time a hardship enters our lives, we’re reminded that this world is not our home. We are broken people living in a broken, sin-filled world. If we try to make our lives into a heaven-on-earth, we’ll surely be disappointed. A couple years ago, our six-year-old daughter came home from school and announced, “Miss H. says she’s not tying any more shoes after Christmas.” Which meant we had better start practicing! “David started to fuss and whine about needing help with his shoes, and Miss H. said, ‘David, life is full of hard things.’ That’s what she says all the time.”

Pray for perseverance. Call upon the only one who can sustain you with grace in the midst of your difficulty. Pray “at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . . Keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). So I love this book because it's powerful and useful, but the truths presented are only really encouraging if we apply them to our lives!I love her step-by-step guides for things. I am planning on copying some of them and hanging them around my room. They are practical ways of applying the Bible. Who of us can say we couldn’t use that kind of help? I would say I loved this book, but I'm not sure how much I love conviction!! ;) Needless to say, this author has done it again for me with her powerful Christian encouragement and Christ-like focus.