It sometimes frustrates me that I have to so often learn things "the hard way". The trials I go through -- from teeny to huge -- are frustrating and often painful to go through. But God teaches me so much through each difficulty. Sometimes it's something hitting me from the outside, and sometimes it's my own sinfulness causing problems in my life (or a mixture of both).

I am a stubborn human being. Sometimes that stick-to-it-iveness is good. Often it's the cause of my own demise. But God is teaching me to humble myself when I need to through some current difficulties in one of my family relationships. I so often get caught up in how I'm right that I don't think about how I might be wrong.

My boyfriend, Nathan, has a very humble spirit and his humility has shown me how I need to be humble and when I need to even sacrifice my own "rightness" in order to serve someone else or give grace to someone else. I love how even though we may go through tough times spiritually, emotionally, physically or financially, God always provides exactly what we need to make it through and teaches us so many important truths in the process.

Even though I'm experiencing difficulty and pain, God has provided and blessed me by bringing Nathan into my life, giving me wonderful friends, and placing me in a loving church family. And He constantly gives me strength so that I can bless and serve others as well -- and continues to teach me how to do so. Hopefully out of my own situations, I will be able to bless others and share their burdens.

Oh, to be more like Christ in His humility and grace!