Trials – Something you can count on
February 2nd: My truck broke down. After getting gas at the Chevron station, it wouldn’t start again. I needed to call a tow truck and have it hauled to the mechanic.
February 4th: At 11:00 pm, as I was getting ready for bed, I found my kitchen floor soaked in water caused by a leak in the bottom of the dishwasher.
February 11th: My sister-in-law died of COVID-19. She is missed terribly.
Trials come in all shapes and sizes. Select hardships begin at birth and last a lifetime. This is the case for my friend born with spina bifida. Other difficulties start later in life, like my husband’s brain tumor which will probably continue to nag and plague him always. Additional heartaches, like the death of a loved one, may never completely fade away, but eventually, we learn to cope and remember without so much drowning pain. Thankfully, some misfortunes are short-lived. My truck was fixed and running again within two days.
This world is full of heartache and trouble, and being a Christian doesn’t make us immune. Misery, distress, worry, anxiety, and tribulation tumble in and out of our lives. In fact, the Bible suggests that we are not supposed to be surprised by trials and temptations (1 Peter 5:12). Trials are the problems we face outside while temptations affect us on the inside. Both fly at us, exert pressure, and squeeze us like a sponge wringing out water.
God – Someone you can count on
So why doesn’t God keep us out of trouble and away from difficulties and stress? According to James, chapter one, when our faith is tested, our endurance and trust have a chance to grow. God uses these situations in our life to bring us closer to Him.
I have heard it said, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”, but I disagree. On our own, difficult problems can conquer us. But we don’t have to wait until we are crushed to cry out to God for help. We can call out to Him at any time, and He is always faithful to answer our prayers! Just as trials come in a multicolored variety, there are vibrant shades of grace to match.
When trials come, we can respond in a myriad of ways. These include anger, blame, guilt, self-pity, fear, surprise, and shame. However, when life is truly overwhelming, it forces us to look to God for help. Sometimes we yell and scream at God for what is going on in our lives. I believe it is acceptable to vent our feelings to God. The psalmists did it, and God knows our pain.
So why do we sometimes wait until we just can’t take it anymore before asking for God’s help? It’s because there are impurities in our faith. We think that we can handle problems on our own. Or we don’t, really know God personally. Or we don’t trust Him. You see, our lives are full of sin. Count it up. Sometimes we trust more in money than in God. Then there’s lust, pride, anger, gossip, boasting, and bitterness, etc.
God doesn’t promise to take the problem away, but fortunately, we can trust that He will give us the strength to see us through and somehow work it for our good (Romans 8:28).
Having a Growth Mindset
James 1:2 suggests that when we face trials, we should, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.” What? This statement seems irrational. But let’s take a closer look.
Having joy does not mean that we are happy about the problem. By its very definition, a problem is … well, a problem. They are grievous and painful. Instead, the verse means we should make a conscientious decision to evaluate the situation (consider) and trust God that there is some sort of purpose in the long run (which can bring us joy).
Trials are not random or accidental. They are used by God to prove, purify, and strengthen our faith. Just like silver or gold is purified by fire, God uses trials to filter out the contaminants in our lives. By trusting Him through the process, we learn and grow.
God is always working in us, whether we recognize it or not. And He promises his grace and support to help us from the beginning to the end. I know that in my own life, as God sees me through troubles, my trust in Him grows and my faith becomes stronger. Just as a bodybuilder becomes stronger after lifting weights, suffering and misfortune can bring about a spiritual toughness that makes us more mature in our beliefs. We become complete, fully developed, well-rounded Christians (James 1:4).
The main focus of our life should not be money or success. The goals of a Christian are to know God more and be used by Him. Trials allowed in the life of a Christian are not random; they have a purpose. They lead to a radically Christ-centered perspective. The more we depend on God and trust Him, the more our faith flourishes. This can bring joy, and peace, and patience – Godly characteristics that we desire.
Lately, my personal trial has been back pain. To face pain without knowing that God has a plan and purpose for it in my life would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Pain would just be pain void of any fruit. First knowing God’s character and then knowing all of life comes through His kind and loving character, that He has a good plan and good purposes, gives me a reason to look to God for His strength, endurance, and wisdom during trials. To submit to Him and trust Him to see me through and to wisely use the resources He provides for me. I can look back and see the many things God has done for me in my life and know He will get me through whatever He brings my direction.
Thank you for sharing! I will be praying for you.