Of the many practical things that I have learned during my internship at Tri-County, most recently I have come to understand the incredible hardships that people endure. Hardships that I do not even fathom nor relate to.

Just yesterday, I had the chance to go on visitation again, as I do every Tuesday and Thursday. More than any other day, though, I was struck by the measure of trial that many believers must face. Of the four people that I visited, one suffers from incredible loneliness as she lays in her bed 24 hours a day in a nursing home. Another sits in her apartment, slowly and steadily withering away from the effects of cancer. One lady struggles to find the strength to provide full-time care for her vegetable-like husband...now that she has been doing so for fourteen years! Another twenty-something man remains in a rehabilitation clinic, piecing together the parts of a marriage that he has blow apart by his addictions.

I was astounded by their situations. Situations in which my life pales in comparison. My greatest worries and fears do not even register on their radar. Yet, I was even more impressed by their confidence and steadfastness and trust in the Lord for their trials. Each faced the trial with the confident expectation of help of the Lord. May I learn how to minister and demonstrate compassion to these believers. May my life, in my trials, emulate these believers.