Five Ways to Look for Blessings During Trials by Juliana Gordon

“Trials are a blessing in disguise.”

“Look at the bright side!”

“After trials come blessings.”

When we are in the moment of residing in the uncomfortable, messy, or painful space of a trial or a hard time, one of these phrases can be a common response. Sometimes it is a meaningful comment, meant to encourage us to persevere. Other times, it is given because the other person honestly doesn’t know what to say. Either way, these remarks have the potential to land as insensitive, dismissive responses to legitimate pain. But what truth lies in this way of thinking? Can we find blessings from God during trials and challenges in our lives?

I don’t believe that there is a transactional nature of suffering = blessings, as in “suffer for God = get what you want.” But I do believe that blessings not only follow trials but often come during them. Here are five ways you can look for blessings from God during trials.

Even now, God is providing for you.

See God’s provision in other areas of your life, even if one area is really hard right now. He may even use this time to teach you what you really need. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NASB1995)

Even now, God is with you.

Psalm 139:11-12 (NASB1995) says, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.’” There is nowhere we go that God cannot see us or be with us.

Even now, God is producing endurance in you.

Here we encounter James 1:2-4 NASB1995. This is one of my favorite/least favorite passages. I love these verses because it gives me hope that my trials have a purpose; I don’t like these verses when they are used by others to poke at people who are hurting, to tell them to be happy that they are going through what might be the worst time in their lives. Read these verses knowing that God has a plan for your life. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Even now, God keeps his promises.

Sometimes we expect God to keep promises He didn’t actually make—we must be careful about that! But even in the worst, God’s promises about salvation (John 3:16), His presence (Hebrews 13:5-6), and His forgiveness (John 1:9), will be fulfilled. Maybe not in our timing or our ways, but He will keep His promises according to His plan.

Even now, God loves you.

The loneliness we can feel during a trial can also make it feel like God isn’t with us either. But He is, and He loves us so much! Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39.)

Knowing that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), we are bound to have plenty of opportunities to practice looking for God’s blessings during hard times. We can use these steps to change our hearts and persevere through difficulties.

A prayer for finding blessings from God during trials

Heavenly Father, we pray that You would remind our hearts of these truths as we encounter struggles in our lives. We pray that we would find our hope, joy, and peace in You. Thank You that Your Word is true and that we can put our faith in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Juliana Gordon

Juliana Gordon studied creative writing at California State University at Northridge. She is a pastor’s wife and a freelance writer in Southern California. She has been married to her husband for over 25 years. You can find her at www.julianagordon.com or on Instagram at @julianagordonwriter.