In life on this planet, we are often either in a
trial, coming out of a trial or about to go into a trial. This is not a sign of
spirituality, punishment from God or an attack by Satan. Life just happens!
Sometimes, we simply reap what we sowed in life.
Possibly these ordeals occur because of acts of selfishness perpetuated by some
other person. Some trials provide a course-altering experience to get us back
into God’s perfect will for us.
Life really is a rose garden, but did you
notice...roses have thorns (1 Peter 1:6). The trials in our life provide the
fire for our Master Silversmith to shape and mold us into His divine nature (2
Peter 1:4).
If we have the wisdom and faith to take refuge in
Him alone, God is a shield for us (2 Samuel 22:31). Tribulation strengthens our
fortitude, patience, and spirituality, as it forces us out of our comfort zone
and into unfamiliar and often unpleasant circumstances (James 1:2, 12; I Peter
1:6).
God uses trials to gain our attention and to
manifest His Son’s divinity within us (Isaiah 43:7; Genesis 50:20; John 9:3).
They strengthen us and make us more resilient, so that problems, which used to
devastate us, no longer make any impression on us (John 16:33).
We may not understand what God is working out in
our life, but He is faithful and we can trust Him (Proverbs 20:24; Hosea 14:9).
No matter what we experience, even persecution for our faith, Heaven’s glory is
worth it all (Romans 8:18).
Once we trust in God's faithfulness, we can hide
under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 91:4). We also enter into His rest and
live from a positive place of dependence (Hebrews 4:10). The more we obey God’s
Will, the more we realize that His ways are perfect.
God’s desire is for us to respond to any negative
issues we experience with patient expectation and spiritual integrity, knowing
full well that His faithfulness will work out everything for our good (Romans
8:28).
Prayer:
Father God, it is thrilling for us to watch Your
character and fruit gradually replacing the carnal aspects of our personality
traits (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:4). You always supernaturally sustain us
and provide for us through every trial (1 Corinthians 10:13). In fact, we
usually end up with more than we started with (Job 42:12). Through Your joy, and
as we live a life of praise and prayer, we are victorious over life’s trials.
The world will constantly attempt to pull us back
into its mold. The devil will try to deceive us into compromising our
convictions. Even some in our natural and spiritual family will fight to
dissuade us from following hard after You (Psalm 63:8). Life gives us many
options, but living in the center of Your will enables us to endure persecution
and to find contentment in all of our circumstances, because Your Son and
Spirit dwell within us (Philippians 4:11).
Thought for the Day:
We often attempt to escape the trials of life, but
God will not give us anything that Christ in us cannot bear; therefore, secure
in Christ, we can endure life's trials with joy, gratitude and hope for a
better future. - James 1:2-8
