p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0px; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 21.6px; text-align: justify; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’; min-height: 12.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 21.6px; text-align: justify; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0px; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’; min-height: 12.0px} p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’; min-height: 12.0px} p.p6 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 10.0px ‘Adobe Garamond Pro’} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space: pre} Never underestimate the arrival of the unexpected. What we consider to be a ‘hardship’ in life may only be God’s gentle hand guiding us on the road of life. Each adversity in life can bring us closer to God, even though we don’t understand why such incidents have to happen. Incidents when you feel lost, without hope, and unloved can be the times you grow closer to God. It is then that you can learn to rely on God more. It is during these times that you can be reassured of the presence of God in your life. When I think of you my God, it boosts my spirit and gives me hope. Because of your love I know that I will not be taken in by all of the grief in my life. You are so compassionate to me. You show me every day that you are my faithful friend. You always let me know that you will be with me to help me do the right things and it’s because of you that I am able to face each new day, each new challenge. (Lam. 3:22-24 paraphrased) Hardships can strengthen our reliance on God. They can grant us the opportunity to increase our faith and to mature as a Christian. Hardships, adversities, afflictions, challenges, trials, tribulations, misfortunes (whatever we choose to call them) can bring us into the depths of God’s love and help us recognize the plan God has for our lives. God’s gifts are not always what we feel they should be because we overlook their value by their appearance. God knows what we need to have a richer, fuller life. Never underestimate the gifts from God in your life: some may look like ‘Hardships’ but are actually God’s ‘Love’ in action.

Hopefully within the pages of this book, you will learn and understand that: God SEES us through our hardships, God HELPS us through our hardships, God HOLDS us through our hardships, God STAYS with us through our hardships.