Have you ever experienced a distasteful time in your life, and while you were going through it, desired to be free from it, only to find by later examination, you found that the Lord was actually teaching or seeking to teach you that which you needed in life? One of the clearest experiences recorded in God’s Word is Israel’s 40 years of wandering around in the wilderness due to their disobedience to their God. Yet we need to know that God leads us through the way of the wilderness so we may learn that this wilderness world has nothing to offer the child of God. Another great truth to remember is that each trial, divinely permitted, is adapted to our spiritual condition. God seeks to move us from where we are to where he desires that we be, and sometimes that involves discouragements, defeats and disappointments in our life. God brings us into the place of distress in order that we may exercise faith in Him. Amazingly enough, this is intended to lead to genuine joy! “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope...Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:4,13)