Lord, only You can make beauty out of the ashes resulting from fiery trials. Let me remember the great gain of knowing the depth of Your grace because it is revealed to me in affliction. The desert seasons bring such thirst to my soul that I seek You afresh with an earnestness that may have been lacking. Love given to me by Your divine presence often gets swallowed up in the bright days of prosperity. But bring me the dark nights of misery and Your love glows like the stars on the black canvas of evening. Like a beacon drawing me home is hope during the stormy times out at sea. Lord, You so graciously refine the jewel of faith by bringing me into rough waters to remind me who truly is the captain of my ship. Do I dare cry out to You for the increased growth necessary to bring me closer to You and shape me into Your likeness? For You do not train me in ease and luxury but in discomfort and battle. You lead me to brace myself for the storm by abiding in You. I plunge into the rivers of turbulent circumstances only so I can swim deeper beneath the current and find the peace of Your living water. With my hand in Yours, I can climb the mountains, scale the wall, and walk a thousand miles with the knapsack of sorrow and grief attached to my body. Give me new life, Lord Jesus, through the present and future trials. Under the mighty Word of God set down in 1 Peter 4:12-13 and the authority of Christ Jesus I bow in humble prayer.

 Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of His glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13, WEB