The Pathway Through Trials and Tribulations
Greetings and good morning, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series
where we seek to explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years,
the heavenly Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them
with you. This morning we seek to understand the pathway through trials and tribulations.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Pathway Through Trials and Tribulations
"Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here
and watch with me." Matthew, Chapter 26, Verse 38.
Once more the dark clouds have arrived,
Covering the sky and everything alive.
The greyness of things,
Without the bright sunshine,
Makes gloomy feelings most unkind.
Thoughts are also soaked with the dark mist,
Like soaked and struggling overcoat lists.
But the pain of its acid enshroudment on the mind
Is a lonely seemingly unbearable time.
But still we struggle on feeling exhausted,
From the unremitting feeling of suffering
Even when there is a nighttime break.
Sorrow, Oh how we would love to be free
From you, and your unromantic charm.
How we would love to bathe in the emotional Sea
of Light far far from any emotional harm.
How we would love to have our minds unchained
From the ravages of your cruel bondage.
How we would love to give birth without pain
To the many thoughts still unmade.
Oh Misery, can you please say adieu and flee
And leave our minds to rejoice in glee.
What price must we pay to escape from your arms?
Is time ever going to deliver us from your charms?
Brothers and sisters, as we continue this physical and emotional struggle with the material realities
of life, and our moral and spiritual struggles, too, it is helpful to know there is a pathway through
these experience, even as there is a pathway around a mountain. It does not always appear so, but
it is there. The pathway is truth.
"...The circumstances of life constitute a divine dispensation working along with the children of
God." The full magnitude of this truth does not impact us fully until we consider the circumstances
of life and the nature of growth. What are these circumstances? They include joyful and difficult
experiences. We can think of horrific diseases, plagues, wars, personal misfortunes, depression, and
all kinds of suffering, in addition to the more enjoyable aspects of material life, which are all too
brief when they visit.
As we view this life, we see an immense and seemingly impenetrable jungle with many entry points
but no clear direction as to how to move from here to there. Our material drives, like survival, serve
us well, but as soon as we emerge into the more dense and concentrated aspects of the moral and
spiritual jungle of life, we seemingly hit a brick wall. We are overwhelmed by the question of where
and how to start, where and how to go. In addition to this, we are mortal and thus always reminded
of our impending death. We live with the gnawing inescapable feeling that time is running out. Aside
from the material instinct to survive, no apparent knowledge exists to show us why we should
continue with this intense but painful journey towards nameless despair.
But there is a spiritual light. There is a light so deep down inside of us that even though we cannot
discern its source, we can experience its radiation in the values of faith, hope and trust. These
manifestations of the spiritual light of love instruct us that if we use them, we will see that there is
a purpose for all this difficult uphill climb. There is a spiritual goal that awaits us at the end of all
of this suffering, disappointment and personal unhappiness. There is a grand reward for fighting the
battle of trials and tribulations.
And when we follow these manifestations of light, they give way to the light of divine grace and
mercy. If we walk in this great light, we can see many things that would otherwise be invisible. Our
spiritual understanding and reason can transcend the material difficulties and gloomy forecasts of
the material mind. Once entered into this light of grace and mercy, we can begin to make sense of
it all as well as to become conscious of the ever present Spirit of Truth who guides us through the
complex landscape of morality and spirituality. No, the Spirit of Truth does not exempt us from
experiencing material difficulties. He empowers us to transcend them, and we can if we use faith.
The Spirit of Truth endows us with new meanings and values and therefore a new spiritualized
purpose for living this difficult life.
The Spirit of Truth, which is the Spirit of Jesus, unerringly leads us through these experiences,
always showing us the true meanings and values concealed in these experiences, always mercifully
encouraging us to "be perfect even as the heavenly Father is Perfect." He always admonishes us to
look to him when the waters of despair threaten to dislodge us from his unfailing grasp. If we were
never overwhelmed by the waters of adversity, we would never discover that we are in his unfailing
grasp, spiritually safe and sound. His love for us is precious and all encompassing. And though the
material mechanism eventually fails, we cry "my vindicator liveth!" And if our Vindicator lives, we
shall live too.
This concludes today's message on understanding the pathway through trials and tribulations. We
hope you find something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day. Until
next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
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The Pathway Through Trials and Tribulations
