SOME TRUTHS & BENEFITS OF TRIALS;
None of us like them, at times they can range from irritation to severe. Some pass quickly, others can be life long. Distress, suffering,loss, pain, mentally painful, and with it our thoughts can fly in different directions of why is this happening. We can believe lies such as If God Loved me this wouldn’t be happening to me. God doesn’t care for me. God has abandoned me. All of these thoughts attack the character of God and seek to tempt us not to Love God with our mind by injecting lies to us. We need to take the Thought captive when it comes, examine it. Does it honor God? Is it true of me In Christ? What Does Scripture say? We are to RECOGNIZE the Thought, REJECT it by REPLACING it with THE TRUTH of HIS WORD! And in doing so we can be continually ” TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of our MIND…”-{Rom 12:2}
Let’s consider some TRUTHS ABOUT TRIALS from HIS Word…
1. TRIALS Are OPPORTUNITIES TO – MATURE SPIRITUALLY –
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”-{James 1:2-4}
2. TRIALS Are OPPORTUNITIES To – GROW WISE –
“…If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. “- {James 1:5}
3. TRIALS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITIES TO – LEARN TO OBEY GOD
“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.“-{Hebrews 5:8}…” It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”-{Psalm 119:71}
4. TRIALS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN TO – DISTRUST SELF AND TRUST GOD! –
“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. “- {2 Cor 1:9}
5. TRIALS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITIES TO – EXPERIENCE GOD’S COMFORT –
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction,…”-{2 Cor 1:3}
6. TRIALS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO EQUIP US TO – COMFORT OTHERS –
“…SO THAT we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. “- {2 Cor 1:4}
7. TRIALS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITIES TO – SHARE THE GOSPEL –
“…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.“-{1 Peter 3:15-16}
8. TRIALS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITIES TO – RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”-{James 1;12}
9. TRIALS ARE OPPORTUNITIES WITH RIGHT RESPONSE TO – REVEAL GENUINE FAITH
” So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.” .”-{1 Peter 1:9 NLT}
10. TRIALS AFFORD US OPPORTUNITIES TO – EXPRESS LOVE TO HIM
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”-{James 1:12}
If You Presently Are Not In A Trial, What should Your Attitude Be To Someone Who Is In A Trial?
“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, “- {Job 6:14}
A PROMISE AMIDST YOUR TRIAL;
“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. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those he called, He also justified; those He justified, he also glorified.”-{Romans 8:28-30}
Hope These will encourage you to see God is not out to destroy you but Develop You, Display Himself to you, and Through you, to use you in the lives of others.
There is Hope in our Pain.
There is Perspective From His Word in our Pain!