Trials: June 20, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JUNE 20, 2014.

TRIALS

DEFINITION:

Being tried or tested; subject to suffering, grief, distress, affliction or trouble; a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or tribulation.

SCRIPTURE:

Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James1:2.

Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you. I Peter 4:12.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

You will notice in the verse above found in James 2:1 that it does not say “if” you face trials. He says “when” you face trials. Peter warns us in I Peter 4:12 (above) not to be surprised when we suffer trials. Both James and Peter suffered persecution as leaders of the early Christian church. Being a Christian will not exempt us from trials. None of us should be surprised when a trial comes into our life.

James says to consider our trials “pure joy.” How is that possible you may ask? Trials are troubles that disturb our sense of well being and they break our daily pattern of comfort, joy and happiness. James is not telling us that we must be happy about our trials. There is a difference between joy and happiness. When James tells us to consider a trial with real joy he means for us to evaluate our trial with a positive attitude.

God allows trials to come into our life because we can profit and learn from them. The testing of our faith serves to strengthen our faith and draw us into a closer relationship with the Lord. As James says, the testing of our faith as we go through trials develops our perseverance. As Peter tells us, trials are painful and cause suffering.

Those who are walking with the Lord will know that the Lord is right there with them as they go through the testing of a trial. When we successfully persevere through the test we will experience the “pure joy’ of victory in the midst of our trial.

Peter wrote to warn the believers as to what they will be facing after the burning of Rome and the beginning of about 200 years of Christian persecution to come. Peter speaks from experience, as he suffered much persecution and many trials for his faith. In the fourth chapter of I Peter, Peter tells us that there are four attitudes necessary for us to be triumphant in persecution. We are to expect it, rejoice in it, evaluate its cause, and entrust it to God.

Perhaps your world has collapsed. It may be a deep personal loss, a tragedy in your family, a loss of a job, a financial setback or even a family spat. Jesus is bigger than any crisis you may face. He can rebuild your life and at the same time turn any trial into an opportunity. All you have to do is to acknowledge that you cannot conquer the crisis you are facing by yourself. Turn your trials over to God, and humbly allow Him to guide you and then watch Him work in your life.

Possibly you say that you have tried to turn your trial over to God but it just does not work. There is a key. First, make sure you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and asked Him to forgive you of your sins. Then read the Bible each day and study what you have read. God’s Word helps us to recognize what needs to be changed in our life. Then spend time praying to your Lord and tell Him your needs. Make a commitment to put God first place in all you do in life. This may be a radical life changing experience for you but if you want God to be with you in your trials you will need this kind of a relationship with Him.

No trial is too large for God to intervene and no person is too small or to wicked that God does not care for them. When we put all of our concerns in the hands of our Lord, God will work within us to do something wonderful in our lives.

Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrows keep you human, failures keep you humble, success keeps you glowing, but only God keeps you going.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Luke 2:14.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.

PRAYER:

Thank You that Your Word gives me the assurance that You are with me through every trial I face. Help me not to be fearful when a trial comes my way but to turn to You and let You work in my life to strengthen my faith and deepen my relationship with You