Problems and Trials

These things seem to be universal and everyone has their share of them.  Some seem to have more than others and of course people handle them differently.  The response varies in individuals from accepting the blame, to blaming others to blaming the evil one and also blaming God.  Many times, if we were honest, we would have to admit that many of the problems that seem to plague us are brought on because of the decisions we make and they turn into trials that can overwhelm us for many years.

I remember being in debt for many years because of my spending problem; spending money I didn’t have and buying on credit cards which made it so easy to attain what I wanted and not what I needed, and whose fault was it but my own.  This habit has caused many problems in many marriages.  Now it would have been easy to blame the credit card manufacturers who provided the credit cards and make them so available to most anyone that wants one.  I could have blamed the evil one for tempting me to get the credit card in the first place and I also could have blamed God for not stopping me from getting the card.  Even though I could have blamed my problem on all of the above, the truth was it was no one’s fault but my own.  If we would just take responsibly for our own actions there would be far less divorces and even crime, violence and wars, arguments and fights that take place every day.  Actions have consequences that we need to accept and then act on them and move on, learning from what we have previously done.

God’s Word makes it very clear that we will reap what we sow in Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”  

This happens to all people no matter where they find themselves, it is a universal truth.  Believers face trials for the testing of their faith at times and they can and are meant to be beneficial to you, if you respond to them in the right way.  These are things we don’t necessarily bring on ourselves but are for the testing of our faith and can result in patience and longsuffering, which is needed to be victorious in our Christian walk.

Read what it says about trials in James 1:2-4, “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 perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

If we are honest, most of us don’t count it a joyful thing when we face trials or temptations, we just want them to be over as quickly as possible.  We will never know what our character is truly like, or how we would respond under pressure, if we didn’t face any trials in our walk with the Lord.  Instead of complaining and griping about the things we face, we should try to see them as opportunities for growth.  It would be good to ask the Lord to help you overcome your problems and trials with a good, positive outcome in a way that will honor Him.

When we face trials, as believers, we would do good to remember these words in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

I hope this has been an encouragement and a blessing and a help to you.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day and don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!