Poppa-Stylez wrote:This may be the wrong forum to post this... But have you guys ever had times when you KNOW you're being tested?One bad thing after the next that you had no way of foreseeing, that you then have to handle. Over the past week, i've had a lot of bad luck, and it's almost inescapable. Just when i think "that's the last of it" i'm wrong.
Just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience or has words of comfort to this very very exhausted man. lol.
Everyone (EVERYONE!) has problems in their lifes. Believe me.
Some people talk about it, others keep it to themselves. Everyone's different.
The people who
do talk about their problems always compare themselves to those who
dont and think "I wish i was (name) because he/she doesnt have any problems in her life". But thats a false assumption because the other type of person (who
does have problems in his/her life) is choosing not to say anything about it, or to make it public.
One example --- I know some families who always cause a scene when they go out somewhere, compared to the other "normal" families who keep themselves to themselves. But you cant assume that just because a family behaves themselves when they go out to the restaurant, then they are fully-functioning. Some people might just be better actors in public. Thats just a random example, and I know it doesnt apply to you!)
This is from a prayer. Ive always remembered this sentence because I remember the first time I read the prayer, and at the time it stuck out, and ive remembered it ever since:
O my Lord!
Thou knowest that the people are encircled with pain and calamities and are environed with hardships and trouble. Every trial doth attack man and every dire adversity doth assail him like unto the assault of a serpent. There is no shelter and asylum for him except under the wing of Thy protection, preservation, guard and custody.
O Thou the Merciful One! O my Lord! Make Thy protection my armor, Thy preservation my shield, humbleness before the door of Thy oneness my guard, and Thy custody and defense my fortress and my abode. Preserve me from the suggestions of self and desire, and guard me from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.
Verily, Thou art the Protector, the Guardian, the Preserver, the Sufficer, and verify, Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful.
- `Abdu'l-Bahá
http://bahai-library.com/compilations/p ... P-110.html
...so God knows that we have problems in our lives.
Another thing: in the tablet of Ahmad it says that
the wisdom of every command shall be tested:He is the King, the All-Knowing, the Wise! Lo, the Nightingale of Paradise singeth upon the twigs of the Tree of Eternity, with holy and sweet melodies, proclaiming to the sincere ones the glad tidings of the nearness of God, calling the believers in the Divine Unity to the court of the Presence of the Generous One, informing the severed ones of the message which hath been revealed by God, the King, the Glorious, the Peerless, guiding the lovers to the seat of sanctity and to this resplendent Beauty.
Verily this is that Most Great Beauty, foretold in the Books of the Messengers, through Whom truth shall be distinguished from error and the wisdom of every command shall be tested. Verily He is the Tree of Life that bringeth forth the fruits of God, the Exalted, the Powerful, the Great.
.
.
So, (and im sure you know this)... the wisdom of EVERY command will be tested. So, by the time you die, you will have been tested on all of the same criteria, and someone else will have been tested on the same criteria.
So, (and im dumbing this down because im trying to get my message across), God will be sitting there, with a clipboard, grading you:
[] Honesty
[] detatchment from worldly desires
[] Detachment from money and preference to lead a good and honest life,
[] blah blah blah...
^ those are supposed to be squares, and its meant to be a checklist
So, in our life, each of us are tested on these qualities but because we all have different lives, our situations are slightly different. But at the same time, we are still being tested in one particular thing. Its HOW we choose to react to a given situation which distinguishes us from others (Because everyone has different capacities). Theres a good quote which talks about people and their different capacities... im not entirely sure where it is but will edit this post and add it here when I find it.
So, anyway, imagine there are 2 people who are both poor. Both are being tested on "Honesty" by God.
One of them chooses to overcome this difficulty in his life by selling drugs and making money.
The other person, though, (although difficult to do) chooses to lead an HONEST life by cleaning toilets, but never resorts to selling drugs... And yes I know its a lame example, haha!
But I know what this is about, though (your car which was stolen). Everyone has problems in their life. We all do! Just dont make yourself upset over this. It sounds cheesy, but its the "will of God". And also, we have to accept the will of God (whatever it may be):
CONTENTMENT O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge and toward all Thy signs I set my heart.
O Lord! Whether travelling or at home, and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in Thee.
Grant me then Thy sufficing help so as to make me independent of all things, O Thou who art unsurpassed in Thy mercy!
Bestow upon me my portion O Lord, as Thou pleasest, and
cause me to be satisfied with whatsoever Thou had ordained for me.
Thine is the absolute authority to command
Its the last prayer on
this page. (Scroll all the way to the bottom).
And finally,
O SON OF MAN!
The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as doth the rebel for forgiveness and the sinful for mercy.
-Bahaullah
Arabic Hidden Words (#50)
Im sure you've heard people say this a million times: "xyz made me a stronger person because ____". Thats what its trying to say.
Also, there is this:
THE PROGRESS OF THE SOUL
'The mind and spirit of man advance when he is tried by suffering. The more the ground is ploughed the better the seed will grow, the better the harvest will be. Just as the plough furrows the earth deeply, purifying it of weeds and thistles, so suffering and tribulation free man from the petty affairs of this worldly life until he arrives at a state of complete detachment. His attitude in this world will be that of divine happiness. Man is, so to speak, unripe: the heat of the fire of suffering will mature him. Look back to the times past and you will find that the greatest men have suffered most.'
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 178)
Im outta here!