In my walk with God, I am learning to appreciate the uneventful, dry, wilderness seasons, when we can feel like we're plowing through mud, but God is doing a deep work.  This is an amazing feat for God, as my background was one of frequent highs and lows and lots of drama.
 
Years ago, when I was in Bible College, I fell in love with the "concept" of dying to self-of letting the Cross of Jesus crucify my self life.  Well there is only one way to get from concept to reality---trials!  The past few years have seemed like one long trial, and I have sometimes let the enemy steal my joy by giving in to discouragement.  On the plus side, I have experienced wonderful new God expressions in my ministry, a result of what God has wrought in me during the trials.  Or someone will offend me, and instead of giving the offense wasted time and attention, I will simply pray for the person and move on, because, at least in one area, Jesus has transformed me.
 
Oh the things God is doing in us quietly, deep down inside us, in these wilderness seasons.  All may look bleak in our outer circumstances, yet our sense of God's goodness is greater than ever before.
 
I would often wish for a break from trials, yet instead of decreasing they often increase.  I was reading the Scriptures in Hebrews 3 and 4 and was encouraged. Iif I don't harden my heart in unbelief during the times of testing, there is a rest for the children of God, one that doesn't require a trial-free life.