Abigail's Character

Abigail's Character

(for the full story read 1 Samuel 25)

1 Samuel 25:3 “Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.”

Trials can either make us or break us. Trials can bring out the best in us, or they can bring out the worst in us.

In this story, Abigail's hardships brought out the best in her. Judging from his description and how he acts throughout the story, Nabal was extremely difficult and depressing to live with. He was very greedy, selfish, evil, harsh, unkind and unreasonable.

Yet, Abigail is described as being a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance. Wow! We also see her character by the way she acts in the story.

If we were married to a man like that, how would we be described? As bitter, twisted, and miserable?

I once met a lady who had had a tough life. Her daughter had been murdered, and she had had marriage troubles. But, unfortunately, she was the opposite to Abigail. She was hard, bitter and angry.

We all have hard times throughout life. Maybe we live in a difficult family, have health problems or have lost someone close to us. Those things don't have to destroy us. If we turn to God, He can give us the power to be like Abigail. Our character can become stronger and better because of those problems rather than being ruined by them.

There are times it feels impossible to be what we should be, because of the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in. Imagine if you were treated like Joseph was! Is it really possible to still act right and stay sweet even when life is so hard? Joseph and Abigail are both living proof that it is possible. They are also proof that God can take our problems and work them together for good in our life. Don't forget that! Learn to trust God through every trial, and ask Him to give you the grace to become a better person because of them.

Let your trials make you not break you!