Over the last year, my family has faced an onslaught of trials, but the number of blessings has far out-weighed the tough times. We recently moved into our first house less than a year ago. While we were filled with tremendous joy, we also started facing strenuous trials. My husband and I kept taking our concerns to God, but being human we were often consumed with fear, which led to a weakening of faith. We often asked ourselves, “Why would God lead us here if we are only meant to fail?” We sought out encouragement from brethren and generally found wonderful, loving brothers and sisters who uplifted us. Sadly, we also found a few who only made us feel worse. These individuals are the ones who often stuck in our minds, for they confirmed our fears. These few thought they were helping, by pointing out possible ways for our lack of success and ways we should be properly listening to God, in truth they only made the trial harder.

One evening, as a storm moved through and I washed the evening dishes, I wondered if we would see a rainbow once the dark clouds and rain had passed. I pondered about the possibility of rainbows after trials and if there would be a rainbow at the end of this trial. An instant connection to the hope for a rainbow and the broken encouragement we received changed my outlook on the trials we were facing. Do I ever pause to look for the rainbow when God has brought us through a life storm, or for one in the midst of a trial? That night, I was deeply saddened we did not see a rainbow, but I knew I needed to start looking for the hope God promises, even in the middle of suffering. My focus shifted from sounds of woe to marking the moments of blessing and intervention we had consistently experienced. I changed my frustration from lack of situational control into seeking how I needed to changed my own attitude. I took the negative encouragers and toughly examined my own ways of uplifting others.

Now, I grab on to my fears and resolutely turn them to God; whenever I feel downtrodden, I immediately give it to God. When I troll my social media pages and find myself jealous of another’s success, I remind myself to look for my own rainbows and rejoice in that other individual’s happiness—to be the encourager I wanted and need. At times it seems hard to be a light in this world, especially when elements of the world are pulling us down. Yet, this is exactly what we are called to do. We have a cross to bear and bear it we must (Luke 24:17). The burden will weigh us down, but the good and faithful servant we are called to be looks for the rainbows and the lessons of the trial—even when we are in the thick of it. Satan wants me to fail and he wants the fear to consume me. He shouts for joy when I wallow in my troubles, so I must shout for joy when God molds me and dips me in fire, for He is preparing me. He is working with me and I can make the job easier for Him by remaining alert for the lessons, as well as being the encourager for whom we seek.