Struggling with trials...

Chapter Thirty-eight:

Nobody likes to wake up and have a bad day.  And we certainly do not want those days to feel like they are never ending. If we all could have a choice, we would choose our days to be warm, cheery and full of joy.  Unfortunately life is not always like that.  There are a few people that live lives like that, but as believers and followers of Christ, we should not expect our lives to be trouble free.  In fact, because we are believers our lives will have its share of struggles and trials that others will not have to endure. 

Our trial will not be just over things that others worry about (i.e. finances, family, or employment), but it will be different. Jesus forewarned us many times that we would struggle because we are His followers. John 15:18 says, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." Matthew 10:22 says, "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved." John 16:33 warns us "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

A trial can come from many directions.  There are different types of trials that we may face.  It may be health issues, family concerns, or other situations that can ultimately lead to depression, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed to the point that you feel you cannot go on. They can also be the result of our making poor decisions or mistakes and we are reaping the consequences.  They can come from the enemy trying to get us off course.  Then, they can, unfortunately, come just because we are trying to live right and do the right thing as a follower of Christ...this is the type of trial that seems the most undeserving.  

None of us are going to escape trouble, and at some point in our lives we find ourselves caught in the proverbial storms of life.  Jesus' disciples learned this lesson the hard way. The Book of Luke tells us the story of a trial the disciples had to face and Jesus was even with them at the time. It occurred after Jesus had spoken to the crowd who had come to hear Him and listen to His parables.  Afterwards,  He told his disciples they were all going to get in their boat and go to the other side of the lake.  After they got in the boat, Jesus fell asleep.  It was after that a great squall appeared and the disciples feared the boat would soon capsize. They rushed over to Him, awoke Him, and He rebuked the wind and raging waters and all became calm.  Needless to say, the disciples were shocked.  Luke 8:25 says, "... In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”  Graham Scroggie, a British pastor, said, "A storm with Christ is better than a calm without Him." 

If you are honest with yourself, have there been times when in the midst of a trial you have reacted in frustration and maybe even anger?  It is common for us to ask "Why me?...What did I do to deserve this?"  Just like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, it is easy to wonder "Why are you letting this happen?"  The disciples were still learning about Jesus, and even though they had been with him for some time, and had witnessed Him perform many miracles and healings, when the storm happened they fell into their natural, fleshly nature and started to panic and question what was happening. 

When we find ourselves in the midst of our trial, we need to remember Romans 8:28.  It is written in the Scriptures for a purpose...to remind us that, "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." God's providence makes it mandatory that all things are working together, not only for our good, but for the good of this world that He created and is watching over. Everything that happens in our lives is for a great end and purpose.

God does nothing without reason. He knows that trials are difficult, and usually grievous, yet because of them we run to Him in prayer; in times of ease our prayer life is apt to be less often, less intense and we are likely to focus more on other things in our lives.   Trials help us to understand so much more of the Scriptures, especially the promises that God has given us and about the grace that He is waiting to extend to us.  His grace is so much sweeter during difficult times, because I doubt that we would even ponder the concept of grace if things were going well for us. It is in times of desperation and trouble that we can best grasp  the love and faithfulness of our Lord.  During a trial, do not allow yourself to become side tracked for things are not always as they seem!

Have there not been times in the past when you wondered how you would get through a trial, only to come out at the other end, wiser and more understanding of why it had to be?  And, admittedly, there will be those trials that we will never understand the reason this side of Heaven...this is where your faith and trust in your Heavenly Father has got to be secure and unshakeable.  Is He possibly using this current trial to test your faith and trust in Him?  Maybe He is trying to strengthen it so that when mightier trials come your way that you will be ready and will deal with them in a way that surprises even you.

 

Charles Spurgeon wrote "God does not put heavy burdens on weak shoulders.  God educates and tests our faith by trials that increase in proportion to our faith.  God expects us to do adult work and to endure adult affliction only after we have reached a mature status in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, beloved, expect your trials to multiply as you proceed toward Heaven.  Do you think that as you grow in grace your path will become smoother and the sky calmer and clearer.  Quite the contrary.  As God gives you greater skill as a soldier of the cross, He will send you on more difficult missions.  As He fully equips your ship to sail in storms, He will send you on longer voyages to more boisterous seas, so that you may honor Him and increase in Holy confidence...You must still wear the helmet and carry the sword.  You must watch, pray, and fight.  Expect your last battle to be the most difficult, for the enemy's fiercest charge is reserved for the end of the day."

If you look back at the greatest saints ever used by God, they did not simply go through life without problems...in fact, most, if not all of them, endured and suffered greatly while here on earth.  I believe it is wrong for us to teach today's generation that we are somehow different from those who went before us and that we do not need to be subjected to such trials as they.  God is no respecter of persons.  This means He does not favor one person more than another.  He does not love one person more than another.  In fact, He did not love someone like the Apostle Paul more than He does you or me. He loves us all equally!  However, He does deal with each one of us differently in our daily lives, as His ultimate goal for every believer, past, present and those who will follow us is to prepare us all for Heaven by our becoming more like Christ.   

God does not have a different set of rules depending upon your denominational or congregational beliefs.  His words are written forever in the Holy Bible and they do not change, regardless of man's interpretation of them.  Just as He is the same yesterday, today and forever, so are the Scriptures. You may find it disheartening to know that trials are a part of being a believer.  Do not let it discourage you but let it be a reminder and encouragement to you of how God uses things in this life to bring us closer to becoming like Christ...and, really, is not that God's ultimate purpose for our life? 

I have to admit that situations have not always turned out the way I wished and I have been ashamed of myself as to how I handled myself when in the midst of a trial. One thing I have learned, however, is that instead of calming the storm going on around me, God usually calms the storm within me.  And that is something that no words can explain and has got to be experienced, personally, in order for you to understand.