6. The Lord was preparing me. (2 Cor 1:4) I have blogged on this recently. I did not know it fully at the time, but being in a financial hardship and hearing of the ever-sinking economic situation, the Lord was teaching me how to relate and identify with those who are hurting in this way. Now that I am pastor during this global crisis, I thank God for the trial that prepared me. It was good.

7. Learn to speak the truth in love. (Eph 4:15) I needed to hear a lot of things from other people during this time. I needed to hear truth. However, I learned from being on the receiving end that we must be careful to speak the truth IN LOVE. If we are not careful, our very tone will destroy the good we mean to accomplish! Also, we must take into account the current context of a person's situation before we "blast" them with good truth! For example, I have a friend (and he is still my friend! I love this guy) who told me one day, "Wil, you need to be a man and be the one that provides for your family." Now that statement is ENTIRELY TRUE! But my context (and he knew my context) did not allow me to do so, so in effect, his words did not edify or exhort, they simply added an extra burden! I had sent dozens of resumes to churches and filled our numerous applications at secular jobs and had searched the internet for hours. I couldn't find a job! His statement was true, but it hurt, it didn't help. I learned right then and there to speak the truth in love, and it is an invaluable lesson for me! I never want to add to a brother's burden. When he is under it, I want to share it with him. (Gal 6:2)

8. Rejoice in all things. (1 Thess 5:16) This was a tough one! Rejoicing always means rejoicing when there doesn't seem to be anything to rejoice over! However, we ALWAYS have reason to rejoice! The Lord taught me to rejoice over salvation even if I could not rejoice over a job! Rejoice over a church family and friends even when you could not rejoice over food in the refrigerator. Rejoice over the trial because God is over it and is watching over you! Rejoice always! I learned that in those tough times is when you really learn how to rejoice over the best things! It was good for me.

9. In everything give thanks. (1 Thess 5:18) This one goes right along with the previous one. The Lord taught me to finally say, "Thank you Lord for this trial!" That was a good day for me!

10. Finding a church to pastor was far more difficult than I ever imagined! In fact, I learned you cannot find one! The Lord must do the match! I was shocked over and over again to hear what churches were looking for in a pastor. I blogged on this recently, "Preacher or Pastor: A False Dichotomy." It was a sobering, heartbreaking reality to face so many churches that were so concerned about things other than the Word being preached with boldness (Col 4:3-4). We need a reformation! The insight was good for me.

11. "God will hurt a man before He will use him!" My great friend and mentor, Dr. Bill Bennet, told me this as I was entering this trial. It was a frightful reality, but it helped me get through! And it was so true. It was good for me to hear that. Before the trial was over, I heard it from two other friends. Timely wisdom. Good counsel.

12. God is working something good. (Rom 8:28) (I am going to share a verse with you in the next blog "Blessings in the Trial" that will knock your socks off! It is the Word that God gave to my wife during this trial, and it ties these last two lessons together so perfectly.) God kept reminding us through sermons, friends, and Scripture that what was hurting so bad was going to turn out for our good! And it did! And we rejoice and praise His name! (BTW-it doesn't have to "feel" good to be good for you!) These 12 lessons and the 7 blessings I will post next are just a sample of the hundreds of ways this trial was good for us. If you will notice, I mentioned after every lesson that it was good! And I have to say, being placed at First Baptist, Paintsville, KY is far more abundantly beyond anything we could have asked for or imagined (Eph 3:20)! God is good-and so was this trial!