Emma Makes Her Bed

Acts 9:34

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

We recently had the kids start making their own beds in the morning. They've actually gotten pretty into it. They get creative with their folding techniques. Each morning the bed ends up looking different. But the important thing is they're trying.

I was putting the kids to bed the other night, and Emma (our second oldest, three years old) was sitting on her pillow.

"Emma, get under your covers," I told her.

She didn't move. She just sat on her pillow, hugging her knees, small tears rolling down her cheeks.

"What's wrong, Emma?" I asked.

"I don't want to mess up the blanket," she said.

I smiled. She had put so much effort into making her bed. She didn't want to ruin her hard work.

I explained to Emma that she had to get under the covers, because she needed to go to sleep. She could make her bed again in the morning.

Slowly and sadly, Emma got under her covers, trying her best not to wrinkle the blankets too much.

Romans 5:3

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

It may sound strange, but I think sometimes we, as adults, can be similar to Emma. We like when things in our life are smooth. No disruptions. No bumps in the road. No wrinkles in our blanket.

It's important, however, for us to remember that sometimes God uses tribulation in our life for a specific purpose. God uses tribulation to help us grow as a person.

Emma needed to get under those blankets. She needed to rustle them up. If she didn't, she never would have fallen asleep.

Same with us. We need to go through tribulation. Every once and a while, we need to have our still waters turned into rocky waves. If we sailed on still waters for our entire lives, we would never become better sailors.

So don't be discouraged if you end up facing hard times. We all do. And remember that God brings us through trials - not because he hates us - but because he wants to refine us. And when you've finally made it through, you'll be stronger for it.

Job 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.