If you are a breathing human being you will have trials in this life. If you are a Christian you will definitely have trials. The goal is not to just get through them but to have victory over them. So many times trials come our way and we handle them opposite of what God’s word says. We almost always want to blame someone besides ourselves for the problems we have. Sometimes there are external forces against us, but many times they are a result of our own doing. There are so many misconceptions about trials, therefore we need to dig into the biblical concept of trials.
Some trials come because we are human. A creation that was made in the image of God, and at the beginning was perfect. When sin entered the world through man’s disobedience, the downfall of man began. We now experience sickness, accidents, and lots of disappointments. Man has been on the decline ever since that first sin. Sometimes we have trials because we are going against our arch-enemy, Satan. He hates us and is seeking us to devour us.
I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Satan will do all he can to trip us up. We need to stay close to God to be able to discern whether it is the result of a sin we’ve committed or a test from God.
We need to study and try to understand how God works. If we get a clear picture of Him, it will help us to face trials and benefit from them. God’s plan is to make us more like Jesus as we live here and try to influence the world for Him.
Through trials, our faith will be tested. Abraham was tested when God told him to take his only son and sacrifice him on an altar. Can you imagine the pain and agony he and Sarah must have been going through, but Abraham obeyed, and God was glorified. Talk about a test!
Genesis 22:12 “And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Abraham passed the test! It has been well said, “A faith that cannot be tested can’t be trusted.” Don’t fear the test! It is proof that we are truly born again.
The testing of our faith determines whether it is genuine. When gold is tested it is refined, and the dross separates from the valuable part. The testing makes it more valuable not less. All that is worthless is sluffed off, and all that’s left is pure gold!
I Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
When we rightly use the trials that come our way, it will help us to mature. God wants to grow us up. There will be situations that occur in our lives that will need patience, endurance, and perseverance. Most of those will be simply because we are human, and live in a fallen world. However, God wants to prepare us to handle them in a way that will glorify Him, and leave us satisfied and happy in Him. Patience is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty. It is the key to the blessings of God, and he alone can develop patience, and character in our lives. He does this through trials. When we are sure the end will bring glory to God, it will make the process easier. It is vital that we study so that we are not tricked by Satan. He will have more success against an ignorant believer than one who knows the Bible and understands the purposes of God. When we do not study we are ignorant of God’s design for us.
It is important that we submit to him, and let him take us through the trials while totally depending on him. We don’t have to understand what and why things are happening. That would take no faith at all. If we become stubborn and refuse to humbly submit, God will chasten us to bring us back to him. He wants a finished perfect work! When we see a baby that is not developing properly, we see it as a tragedy. It is no different when a Christian fails to “grow up” in Christ.
As we face trials we need to ask God for wisdom. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. It will help us to use what has happened in our lives for God’s glory. It will make the journey easier because it allows us to see the big picture. He has also told us he will give wisdom to those who ask in faith.
I can face trials without feeling defeated or in despair because God has given me the promise of being blessed if I endure temptations (trials). It is a reward for those who love him. I can have a joyful attitude because I know God is in control, he will never leave me, and he wants what is best for me.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
