Tested Mortar: How God Uses Life's Tests and Trials to Strengthen Us

We are always being tested by the circumstances, situations and people in our lives. It is often very challenging to understand and make sense out of these tests, trials, troubles and uncertainties. We often wonder if it's something that we have done to create these circumstances and how we can endure or avoid these challenges in the future. When (and not "IF") we encounter trouble in the future, we think to ourselves, "what have I done wrong to cause this to happen?" But life's journey is not defined by how few problems we avoid or tests we escape, but by who we turn to that helps us to endure. And whether we rejoice in the mere fact that we do endure.
Our life's journey is one that uses all of what we experience to shape and strengthen who we are especially as people of faith and believers in Jesus Christ. This book is entitled Tested Mortar to remind us that mortar gets its strength when pressure, stress, and strain are applied to it. Mortar that is untested is not strong. Mortar that is untested is useless. Untested mortar does not reflect the skill and expertise of the builder. We must realize that we are God's mortar. If we are not tested, we cannot be strengthened; we cannot be fruitful; we cannot be used as an example to others; we cannot reflect God's Glory. Tested Mortar is how we understand what resilience means in our lives and for others within the community of believers. To help us on this journey, this book examines the lessons we learn from several figures in scripture in the lives of Job, Jeremiah, Esther, Daniel, Ruth, Nehemiah, and David.
The purpose of our journey through these stories is not to help us discover ways to avoid life's tests. Our goal is to better understand the necessary roles the faith plays as God uses the circumstances of our lives to build our spiritual resilience and our strength. Whether you are reading these stories as part of your own bible study or as part of a study group, the hope is that these seven lessons will serve to encourage, equip and energize you to not only survive the tests and troubles of life, but to serve as your witness of what is captured by one of my favorite scriptures found in Romans chapter 8, verse 28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Audrey J. Murrell, Ph.D., is an author, professor, and consultant. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois where she was raised within the United Methodist church together with her mother, father, two brothers and one sister. Audrey left Chicago to study psychology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a bachelor's degree, magna cum laud. After undergraduate, she continued her studies at the University of Delaware where she earned both masters and doctoral degrees in psychology from the University of Delaware. Audrey found her way to Pittsburgh, PA where she joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh where she holds a faculty position within the Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration. She also has secondary appointments within the Department of Psychology and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. For other 3 decades she has been a professor, author, researcher, and consultant for many different organizations on topics such as mentoring, diversity, leadership, ethics, and social responsibility. As an author, she has published 4 books and over 50 published professional articles. Dr. Murrell has received several recognitions including the Mayor's Citizen Service Award which proclaimed Aug. 12th, "Dr. Audrey Murrell Day" within the city of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Business Times "Woman of Influence Award", the SBA Minority Business Champion of the Year award, the University of Pittsburgh Student Choice Award, the "Women of Distinction" award from the Girls Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Susan B. Anthony "Women of Vision", the Community Champion Award from the United Way of Allegheny County, the Shyne Foundation's Gwendolyn Elliot "Lifetime Achievement Award" and the "Woman of the Year" by Onyx Women's Network and Magazine. Audrey continues to follow God's calling within her work in the church, across the campus and within the community. She resides in Pittsburgh, PA where she is an active member and an ordained Elder at Bidwell Street United Presbyterian Church (affectionately known as "The Well").