Let Trials Do Their Job

Okay, I don't honestly enjoy trials, who does? But I do believe two things:

We should expect them.

They have a purpose in our lives.

Expecting Trials

Many scriptures talk of difficulties we will face. We face these because we live in a fallen world and people sin. We face them because there are powers and principalities of darkness at work in the world. We may even be among those who, like Paul, face trails because we are Christians, because we belong to the King of Kings and those who don't are raging against the God who created them and loves them.

2 Timothy 3:12 - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
Mark 10:29-30 - So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or [d]lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. (emphasis mind)
I Peter 4:12-13 - Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Okay, so we should expect trials but we are the people of God. Doesn't He want us to be healthy and happy and safe?

Of course, that is for sure the end of the story. No more pain or tears. But we live in a now and not yet reality. All the promises of God are for now but they ware not fully realized until the second coming of Jesus. In the meantime, we stand in faith and believe His word to us! We strive to live by the Holy Spirit!

Trials Have a Job

Like it or not, God allows challenges in our lives for at least a few reasons:

If we never face trails, we will be weak in faith, trust, belief and knowing how to submit to God.
We will also be weak in being able to resist the devil so he will flee from us. (James 4:7)

In other words, we will be very weak Christians if our lives are perfect and without challenge as we would prefer. James 1:2-4 says: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that trials produce in us an ETERNAL weight of glory.

Romans 5:3-5 says And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Not only that but trials can bring us to the end of our own strength and cause us to seek the Lord more deeply and intimately than ever before.

The end result is for us to fully surrender and fully rely on the God whose ways are not our ways (Is. 55:8-9).

His Way is Perfect

Before we jump into how to respond to trials, let's take a small detour into Kingdom reality.

Psalm 18:30 says: This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.

Let's remember that whatever happens, His way is perfect. He didn't come to earth to make our lives comfortable or easy or perfect. He came to bring Life and Life abundant. (John 10:10)

Does our definition of Life Abundant match His?

Life in that verse is "zoe" which means - absolute fulness of life which belongs to God and is through Christ. Life real and devoted to God, fully trusting and consummated by eternal life.

We cannot look at circumstances to determine if we are living an abundant life:

The Apostles suffered terribly but still trusted and gave all for Him. He is worthy!
Chinese believers consider it a great honor to suffer for Jesus.
Pakistani believers boldly share their faith despite knowing it could very likely cost their lives.

Outside of America, most believers come to the Lord expecting it to be difficult and making untold sacrifices of time, energy, comfort, food, safety, etc. for Him.

Matt 16:24 - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Jesus is our perfect example to emulate and the reality is that the theology of suffering and glory go together: the cross and the resurrection.

Our definition of abundant life should be something like: taking up our cross and
doing the same works He does and even greater (John 14:12)

We don't see things the same way God does

We need to be careful not to assume that just because the God of the universe lives inside of us (which He does), that what WEEEEE want is His will in that situation.

Isaiah 55:8-9 - “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Even Jesus, our King and Savior humbled and submitted Himself to the will of the Father. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked that the cup of suffering be taken from Him...but ultimately, He chose God's will, not His own.

Responding to Trials

So, our first response in a trial, according to James 1:2 is to count it all joy when we face trials. That sounds crazy! How do we rejoice in suffering? Why would we do that?!

Because we know a secret: God works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)

That means whether we face the trial because of an attack of the enemy, our own mistake, or because the world is a mess, if we allow Him, God will use it to cause us to grow and mature and be strengthened and prepared for whatever we may face in the future.

So, our first line of defense is to RUN to the Lord! When something hits…whether it is a wound exposed from our childhood or someone challenging in our lives, or someone badmouthing us on social media because of our beliefs or sickness or loss…

He will either put an end to the problem or strengthen us…

but He will never leave us (Deut 31:6, Heb 13:5)

Here are a few reasons why we run to Him (to seek His face, get His perspective and plan, lean into His strength and wisdom.)

Isaiah 58:9a - Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
2 Cor 12:7-10 - And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Victories without the strengthening of the trial and intimacy with God

just lead to pride and religion.

When we run to Him and choose to put our trust in God, no matter the circumstance, the things we face will do the job of, not only refining us, but also bringing us to a place of utter dependence on God, our Father.

And in that place of running to Him, we will find

intimacy
strength
answers
authority over the enemy
perspective
grace
peace that surpasses all understanding
joy in the trouble
rest
endurance
hope...

And so much more!

So the next time something hard hits...run to the Father and let Him walk you through it, growing you in strength, maturity, abiding in Him, and looking more and more like Jesus.

And in the end, you will find that your trial becomes a triumph

and a testimony of God's goodness to help someone else through their trial.