Encouragement for those who travel through valleys!

Sometimes one may wonder: why is life so hard for me, whereas others seem to flourish without any worries. Why does the LORD put so much affliction on my path and why does He cause me to travel through valleys?

For a start, even though we might think that the grass on the other side is greener, realise we only look at the outward side of peoples' life. In one of the congregation, which I was allowed to serve, there was lady, whose husband had died, whilst she had a handicapped son of about 50 years of age, who needed her care full time each day. It made here home bound. Yet she did it with joy. Once on a visit, when we spoke about this, she said: if all the people in my street would put their pan with sorrow outside at their door, most likely when I would walk through street looking at each pan individually a bit more carefully, I would happily go back to my own pan with sorrow. In other words - even though at times it may look like - the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. There is a lot of hidden grief.

More importantly, God knows perfectly what each of us can carry: no more, no less. Also, His grace is sufficient each day anew to face the trials He places on our path. Therefore - BoP, Hymn 48 : 3 -

Be still! What God in His good pleasure
To you in wisdom may impart
Is given you in perfect measure;
Thus be content within your heart.
To Him who chose us for His own
Our needs and wants are surely know.

The reason to write this new post was because of something I read in my daily meditation of this morning, March 7 (one day ahead!) in "Streams in the Desert". The meditation was on 2 Cor. 7 : 5, where Paul recalling his travelling through Macedonia writes, "We were harassed at every turn..." The meditation spoke about the benefit of trials in life, which often bring us closer to God.
Let me share with you the poem with which this meditation ends:

Why must I weep when others sing?
     "To test the deeps of suffering."
Why must I work while others rest?
     "To spend my strength at God's request."
Why must I lose while others gain?
     "To understand defeat's sharp pain."
Why must this lot of life be mine
When that which fairer seems is thine?
      "Because God knows what plans for me
           Will blossom in eternity."

Till next time!