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Through Pslam 66:8-12, KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74 reminds us that a life of believing in ke Akua doesn’t make one immune to trials and tribulations. However, ke Akua will be there to help break through the bad and lead us to a place of abundance!

Weekly devotional: Breaking through the bad

Jan. 15, 2021

Contributed by KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74

Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.

Heluhelu Baibala
E hoʻomaikaʻi i ko kākou Akua, e nā kānaka, E hoʻolohe ʻia aku ka leo o ka hoʻoleʻa nona: Ka mea i hoʻomau i ko kākou ʻuhane ma ke ola nei; Aʻole i kuʻu mai e kapeke ko kākou mau wāwae. No ka mea, ua hoʻāʻo mai ʻoe, e ke Akua, iā mākou; Ua hoʻāʻo mai ʻoe iā mākou me he kālā lā I hoʻāʻo ʻia. Ua hoʻokomo ʻoe iā mākou i ka ʻupena; Ua waiho mai ʻoe i ka mea kaumaha  ma ko mākou mau pūhaka. Ua hāʻawi mai ʻoe, e hoʻoholo nā kānaka ma luna o ko mākou mau poʻo:

Hele aʻela mākou i waena o ke ahi a me ka wai:  Akā, ua lawe mai ʻoe iā mākou ma kahi waiwai. – Nā Halelū 66:8-12

Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives  and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. – Psalm 66:8-12


He manaʻo o ke kahu
So many times, I’ve said, “I can’t wait till this is over.” How about you? It is the mantra of seniors during their last quarter of high school, maybe even the last semester. The stresses of the moment, the challenge of getting through the obstacles, the overwhelming odds against you. All of these make you want to throw your hands up in the air and cry out, “Enough!” Was that your cry at the end of 2020?

Sometimes folks think that because we believe in ke Akua, there will be no trials or tribulations, and that life will be a picnic. Au contraire. Trials and tribulations won’t end with the start of a new year, life will continue to deal you difficulties. The Psalmist helps us to see that God will get us through those times. They will serve to show our strength, through our weaknesses.

The trials are times of testing, they are our refining. When a silversmith refines silver, he never takes his eyes off his work the entire time it is in the fire. If the silver is left in the flames a moment too long, it will be ruined. When the silversmith sees his reflection in the silver, he knows it is fully refined.

In our trials; our times of testing, God’s eye is always on us. He will always be there by our side. Our times of refining will continue until we are a reflection of Him. So, take strength in the times of testing as we are made closer to our maker. The blessing of this whole process is that when we get through the bad, we will be brought to a place of abundance. Hallelujah!



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