GRACE EXPRESSED IN ADVERSITY
This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of grace to understand and accept. We usually don't want to hear about troubles and trials, especially any idea that they might actually be beneficial to us. I believe, however, that there is truth here that needs to be understood. It will help us when we are going through hard times.
One of the key verses of scripture expressing this idea is Hosea 2: 14, 15. God is speaking of His desire to win back the hearts of His people and He says that He will allure her into the wilderness. The wilderness is a place of difficulty...a place of desolation...a place with no natural comforts or provision. God expresses His intent to bring them to such a place and then speak tenderly or comfortingly to them. He says He will turn their valley of troubles into a door of hope. In the wilderness place, He will have their attention. When God brought His people out of Egypt, it was into a wilderness place where all natural support and comfort was removed from their lives. He said He had brought them out of Egypt and brought them to Himself. Ex. 19:4 His intent was to show them that He could be all that they needed to live well and He would bring them into a place of rich blessing as they walked with Him.