Trials, rough patches, bumps in the road, tribulations, or just plain problems. No matter what we call them they still mess up our, for the most part, peaceful lives. They bring the bouts of anger, the endless supply of tears, the last nerve. They stink.

This week I was asked advice on someone else's problem. As the problem was being explained to myself and another, the situation sounded so eerily familiar. I recognized it from my own life, only, I, was on the flip side of the coin. I was in the shoes of one of her so called "problems". I was dumbfounded. I wondered for a minute, "How, God, can I give advice to this woman." This situation was pitting me up against emotions and feelings better left in the past. I did not understand how God was going to take that trial and use it for His Glory. As she explained further I realized the Awesome work that had taken place in my life. Instead of anger and judgment for her, there was compassion and understanding. Instead of blowing her out of the water with reprimand, love abounded in my words. "Thank you, Lord," I later prayed, "Thank you for being all knowing, for knowing all things work together for good." I am glad that even though I do not know how, why, and when, that the Lord does.

As annoying and troublesome our problems are, this week came the realization that God has a purpose for every trial, for every burden. Each problem we face brings us more understanding to those yet to go through it. God gives us these trials so that we may bring about comfort, advice, compassion, and understanding to those in a similar situation. God says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4(KJV), "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." I remembered this verse and was able to give advice and understanding to the woman who was reaching out for it.

While I was going through my problem, I wondered when it would end and what good could possibly come of all this. I was broken, but God, true to His word, brought me up out of a horrible pit and "set my feet on a solid rock". The good that came from it was that of what transpired the other night. My words, my understanding, may have caused a life to turn around. I had a chance to say, "I know what that feels like". "I know the pain it caused me". I had a chance to try and make her see things a little differently. I pray it helped.

How magnificent our God. How he uses the broken pieces in our lives to His good. Just Remember, that the valley that you are going through, came out of, or just about ready to enter was designed by God. No matter how bad, no matter how many tears are shed. He is in control. He will use you later to help a poor struggling soul along that road. He will use you to make a difference.