Trials

“And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity    


I'm not one to sit down and open a good novel when I have free time on my hands.  I have neither the concentration nor the desire to live vicariously through "a good book".  If I had to pick a favorite author though, I think I would pick C.S. Lewis.  

Lewis lost his Mother at the age of 10 to cancer, and through determination earned his degree from Oxford University.  He also fought in World War I where he was injured by shrapnel and soon after returned home to England.   Lewis held many professionally significant positions both at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and eventually married in 1954.  However, his marriage was short lived with the loss of his wife to cancer in 1957.

C.S. Lewis was an emphatic atheist for most of his life due to the death of his Mother, and the many other trials and unanswered prayers.  Lewis eventually found grace again, however, he was not won back to Christianity overnight. Christian friends such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Hugo Dyson, Owen Barfield, and others, faithfully and patiently walked beside Lewis as they helped him work through life on his journey back to Christianity.   Lewis soon saw that God seeks us out on a personal level and demands faith amidst our personal clutter. We have a personal God who calls us individually to make a personal response to the Gospel. 

Trials abound in each of our lives.  The form each one takes may vary, and seldom picks opportune times to make an appearance.  There are never great answers to hard times, maybe because we seek answers here that can only be found from above.    I truly believe God places people in all of our lives to work through "stuff".  I guess that means no one is ever alone no matter how much they think they are.

James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.