Trials

In our Christian walk we can expect many trials.  Our enemy has had many years to deceive people, like he did with Eve in the garden when Creation began, and he is still doing it.  There will be tribulation, trials and struggles, along with problems, situations and circumstances that we cannot control, but being a child of God we have the power to overcome all of these things with the Lord’s help and His Word and the help of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Sometimes we may find it difficult to trust His promises when all we see are the circumstances and situations.  We know that “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19 NIV) and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV) because His Word says so, and we know His Word is true.

As things escalate and more persecutions and more trials take place, we are going to have to rely on the Lord and His Word more and more.  Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Check out some of what Paul experienced in His Christian walk.  Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, “I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.”

Paul goes on in 12:1-9, “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Now read what Paul says in verse 10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul’s dependency was not his own strength but in the power of his God.  Even though God didn’t remove Paul’s infirmity, He demonstrated His power in Paul’s life and, no matter what he faced, he overcame it by the power that was in him from God.  Paul never gave up, or never gave in, because his eyes and mind were on God not on what was going on around him.  

Jesus also overcame many trials, even the ultimate trial, laying down His life for us and dying for us.  If we have the same commitment, we will overcome in the end also, with the Lord’s help, praise the Lord.  So never give up, or give in, trust in the Lord, He promised to never leave us or forsake us!  Something to think about!  May God bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!