In the Bible study Experiencing God, the question was asked, “What did God do to draw you to Himself, specifically?” The answer that popped into my head as I pondered this was a line from an old Happy Goodman Family song: “I came through tribulation. How about you?”

When I say that God used trials to bring me to Him, that is not a cliche. I’ve wondered at times what my life would be like if everything had worked out as I wanted it to. My parents would have stayed together; I would have avoided the years of abuse in our home due to Mom’s remarriage; my teenage years would have been carefree as Mom would have been more available to look after my siblings; the list could go on, but my life instead took a lot of turns that I resented. That resentment caused a deep-seated unhappiness that resulted in my questioning whether anyone cared about me, including God.

Now, as a 50-year-old woman, I can look back and thank God for the hard times, because I don’t know if I would have the relationship with Him that I have if my life had been one of ease. The more I’ve had opportunities to watch God care for me in the hard times, the more I know that He will continue to take care of me.

So, how about you? What did God use to draw you closer to Him? I would love to hear about it. And if you are going through a trial, I hope that you too can look back one day and say, “Thank You, Lord, for bringing me through that valley and letting me know beyond a shadow of a doubt that You love me.”