What's With the Trials?

So Joseph was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him." - Genesis 39:20-21

Sometimes this life does not go well. It, in fact, goes poorly.

Then again, we often exaggerate our difficulties. In comparison to the trials and sufferings around the world, life in America is still pretty good. Yet, personal difficulties are, well personal and often overwhelming! So why does God allow them? Why not keep such things from us? Certainly He could do it if He wanted.

The biblical record states that while Joseph was in prison, the Lord was with him and showed him kindness. God stood by (it seems), allowed Joseph to be falsely accused and imprisoned, then sustained him during his incarceration. What? Why?

The light shines brightest in the night and it is God's transcendent goodness that sustains us in our most difficult days. More difficulties will come, but so will He, and with each arrival of trial we can see Him more clearly and lean on Him more strongly.

The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer