Life is not easy. I recently spoke with a friend who knows that I am experiencing a challenging situation with a family member. I shared with her that this person was going through a rough patch. She asked how that makes me feel. With a big grin on my face I told her, “I still believe God. The devil is not going to throw me any trick questions”.

At that moment, I could have broken down into a long rant that could have gone like this…blah, blah, blah and more blah! No way! I have sense enough to know that dynamics in the best of families can be hard on the emotions. I have been on planet earth long enough to know that things don’t always go our way. Nevertheless, God has His hand in our lives. I have to believe that God is working behind the scenes in the life of this family member. I know God is speaking to them and getting their attention. We often have to take a step back when others rely on us, so that God can truly become their source.

We aren’t God and we can’t fix anyone else. God is the tailor. When He is working our own things out, there are no trick questions.  We can’t change up and think we are being lured away from a Godly resolve because the situation is daunting. God works best in your darkest times. He gets your attention and pulls you back to Him. I know this from a personal standpoint. When I’ve had to “come up for air” when the pressures of life swirled around me I knew that God had the answer and regardless of the situation I was not going to be swayed into thinking otherwise.

A great deal of what He is doing we will never see with our natural eyes. This is when we believe and trust Him. This is when we must choose to believe God and remain steadfast. Why should I change now? We often believe God and rejoice when we see a glimpse of a situation working out for the best, but what happens to our faith when we don’t see any changes? I contend that my final answer is that I believe God. I’ve been through very tough situations. God has developed me into a mature, thinking person. I’m well seasoned, but I still have to believe God, and know that there are no trick questions that will drag me kicking and screaming away from my faith. I’ve had many opportunities to question God, but He is in control and He is at the helm. He knows all the answers to the questions anyway.

Who am I to think that my life will be exempt from challenging situations? I don’t know of anyone who has had a life full of ease. However, I do know plenty of folks who know that there are no trick questions in God. We often hear the phrase, nothing takes God by surprise. He is all knowing, so yes, He knows. When you are faced with a situation that seems hard, is hard or will get even harder always remember there are no trick questions which will come your way. God has His hand in even the most challenging situations. Each and every day we are faced with a number of situations where we have to reflect the glory of God in our lives.

We will face hard and trying events. Just because you may not be able to see how a situation is going to ultimately be resolved, don’t change course when times seem difficult. They may seem so painful, harsh and difficult on the surface, but below the surface or high above in the heavens God is working behind the scenes. When those times come, and they will, always remember we may not have an easy resolution to a situation, but rest assured God has a plan, and there are no trick questions. God still has the final answer.

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Bernice Coles uses her gift of encouragement as she speaks victory into the lives of others through teaching, writing and more.

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