Shades of grey

Did you know that depending on lighting conditions, there are approximately 100 shades of grey vi sable to the human eye? That is amazing to me. It made me think of two verses I have come to appreciate in a new way.

'In this, you greatly rejoice, ( the fact that we have an imperishable and undefiled inheritance)
even though now for a little while if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.'
I Peter 1:6,7 -various trials-

Then over in chapter 4 of the same book, though the verses are speaking of using our gifts to serve each other, the last part of the verse refers to the manifold grace of God.

Various and manifold mean the same thing. ' Various in character, variegated'. It makes me think of variegated yarn or embroidery floss, one color shading into the next to where it is difficult to see where one color ends and the other begins. What am I driving at? To me it says that there is a specific aspect of God's grace to match the trial I am in. I don't know how theologically sound that is but it brings me comfort.

It also makes me realize how we all live with various shades of grey, we all have our own trials, ordained by the God who loves us. The trials are not the same, yet they cut deep into our souls as we go through them. Our own sacred fires.

I once was sharing my heart with a friend, over the phone, of a difficulty Dale and I were going through. Circumstances and situations where not what we wanted. Life was tough. In mid sentence I stopped myself as I remembered her husband was dying of cancer. I quickly apologized as our trial was so insignificant compared to what they were dealing with. She said something I have never forgotten. She said, our trials were no different in that the result was to be the same, becoming more like Jesus, it was just that the Lord has chosen a specific trial for each of us to accomplish the goal.

It is easy for me to get consumed by my own grief and be blind to the fact that others suffer too, just in different ways. It may be lack of finances due to the economic situation. It may be a rebellious child, and unbelieving husband, or a believing husband who is being drawn away from the truth of God's word. Divorce, illness, false accusation, hardship of any kind. Shades of grey.
Shades of grief, of hurt, of loneliness. It is differently the same. Yet, the Grace of God matches the trials we encounter. He will give what is needed to get us through. There will be days, weeks, even years, where it may not feel like it. But it is there, it is His promise.

I have no quick fix, no new truth or principle to make it all better. If I did, I would not feel the way I feel at times. But this I know, that, 'after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you in to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.' I Peter :10. He will do this in the ugliest of situation, if I humble myself, accepting the trial from His hand, casting it all on Him, He will lift me up at the right time.

Shades of grey. Shades of Grace.