The Blessing of Trials

So be truly glad. 

There is wonderful joy ahead, 

even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) 

When troubles come your way,

 consider it an opportunity for great joy.

 James 1:2-3 (NLT)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,

 for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

Romans 5:3 (NLT) 

"Count it all joy!"  "Rejoice!" "Be truly glad!" When life is easy and fun and going smoothly, that makes sense.  But to be glad and rejoice when we run into problems and troubles and trials, really? It is paradoxical to think we should be happy and joyful when we are hurting and sorrowful and in painful circumstances. 

Why then would Paul and Peter and James all tell us the same thing?  Did they know something we don't? What they knew and had experienced was that trials work. They had gained the understanding that trouble accomplishes things that living a carefree life could never do.  Going through trouble humbles us and creates something of eternal value in us. Impurities are burned away like gold that has gone through the fire.  All of the unnecessary things in our lives are stripped away, leaving us with things of true value. 

How can we rejoice when we are full of fear and dread, anxiety or pain. Only by faith, by looking away to the one who endured all, by trusting that all difficulties are working in us new and better and higher things.  Believing that God is good and that he will bring good from what ever we go through. Then we can say like Job, "When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)  When he brings us through, we will see his hand.  So rejoice, be glad, be happy when you encounter all kinds of trials for God is working in you to accomplish his great purposes.

Thank you, Lord, for your refining work.  Thank you, Lord, for the humbling that comes when my trials bring me to the end of myself. I rejoice in your work and all the good you are creating in me.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. 

Yet they produce for us a glory 

that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

2 Cor. 4:17

Click here: Andrae Crouch singing Through It All

Faith

The only thing that counts is faith 

expressing itself through love.

 Gal. 5:6 (NIV)

Since everything we need is in Jesus, our faith is a very valuable commodity.  Peter tells us that our faith is far more precious than gold. (1Peter 1:7).  Gold can buy some of the riches of this life, but, even though it is a precious metal, it will melt and perish, but faith is indestructible and is the gateway into the vast, limitless expanse of God's riches.  

Our faith is so valuable because it enables us to reach out to access all that God has available for us. When, through our faith, we tap into the greatness of God's love we become vessels of that love.  We are given the gifts of love that we can then give away to others. This is God's plan and desire for us.

Even though we may think our faith is small, Jesus told us that even the tiniest amount of faith is powerful because it puts us in touch with all the power of God.  Let us reach out with what little faith we have and tap into the vast unlimited resources of our glorious God.

Hope and Faith

True hope is faith in action

 and the constancy of faith in all contradictory circumstances.

 Praying Through the Tough Times, Lloyd Ogilvie.

Hope is trusting in God, having faith and holding onto his word and promises no matter how things look in the outward appearance. Sometimes hope is hard to come by.  We may feel so discouraged and weighed down by the the problems of life that we cannot even lift our head. 

David describes that feeling so often in the Psalms.

                                     I am dying from grief;

my years are shortened by sadness.

Misery has drained my strength; 

I am wasting away from within.

 Ps. 31:10

And yet, he always seemed to find a way to encourage himself.

But I am trusting you, O LORD,

saying, "You are my God!"

My future is in your hands. 

Ps. 31:14

No matter how low we may feel, we can still say, "I trust in you, Lord.  My life is in your hands." 

Lord, we sometimes feel so impoverished with no hope or faith of our own. When we feel that low, so drained and discouraged, grant us your inspiration and your gifts of faith and hope. We put our trust in you.  We know that you are in charge and are working everything out for our good. 

So be strong and take courage

 all you who put your hope in the LORD!

Ps. 31.24

Sinking

Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water

 and began walking toward Jesus. 

But when he remembered how strong the wind was, 

he lost his courage and began to sink.

 Mt. 14:29, 30

Our faith can fluctuate quickly in stops and starts.  Peter, in a moment of great faith, stepped out of the boat on to the fierce sea because he saw Jesus up ahead.  But, when he saw how strong the wind was and how high the waves he began to sink. 

Sometimes, like Peter, we step out in faith, out of our flimsy comfort zone, and move towards Jesus, believing he can get us through whatever we are facing. Then, when we look around and focus again on our problem rather than God, we are overcome by strong winds of emotion and waves of doubt. The power and strength of our problem looks bigger than God.

As soon as Peter began to sink he shouted, "Lord, save me!"   Jesus quickly reached out his hand and caught him and tenderly rebuked him saying, “Little Faith, why did you waver?” Then, Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat together and the wind was stilled. 

Sometimes we feel like our problem is too big for God.  That's the time to call out, “Lord, save me.”  He will not let us fall.  Even in our weakest moments, when our faith is small, Jesus does not condemn, but reaches out to catch and hold us and gently encourage us to believe again. Together, with God, we will get back to that boat and move through the sea of our problem until the wind dies down and the sea is calm.

Lord, I do believe.  Help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

http://raynoah.com/2011/04/14/water-walking-faith/

Hope

Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!         Psalms 42:11 (NLT)

In a time of discouragement, David penned Psalm 42 & 43.  These Psalms become for us a lesson to help in our times of discouragement or depression.  He doesn't hold back in expressing his negative thoughts and feelings, but in the midst of these expressions he inserts words of hope.  He calls to mind God's kindness (Ps. 42:6).  He acknowledges that each day the Lord is pouring his unfailing love upon him even if he can't feel it.  He sings songs in the night and he prays to the Lord, the source of his life (Ps. 42:8).  He makes a choice to put his hope in God (Ps. 42:5,11 & 43:5).

When we are feeling low, we can do some of the same things that David did.  We can remember and acknowledge that God loves us.  We can pray, even if it is only "Help me" or "Thank you."  We can sing a song or listen to some music. We can reach out to someone.  We can make the choice to put our hope in God no matter how we feel or how discouraging the circumstances around us seem to be.

....never give up hope in God.  He is all good and all powerful, and He will give whatever you need according to your faith.

Simply trust everything into the hands of God, be humble, and open up to His grace.  Through meditation and prayer, you will receive peace, and everything will gradually be worked out for you.  And the things which, in your hour of temptation, seemed so difficult will disappear almost imperceptibly.*

Speak a word of prayer, sing a song, put your hope in God.   What small step can you take today to reach up and to reach out of your depression? 

*Fenelon. Let Go. Whitaker House, 1973: 82,83. 

Fenelon (1651-1715) Archbishop of Cambrai, France, was spiritual adviser to many high ranking people in the court of Louis the Fourteenth.

Tests

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, 

even though you have to 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. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

The most precious thing we have is our faith.  God tests us not to see how we will live or what we will do, but to prove our faith.

Those of us living today in relatively secure affluence don’t face the same kinds of severe life-threatening trials that Christians have faced in many times and places throughout history.  We face tests of a different kind.  

Our modern struggles involve our own self-centeredness, perhaps being overtaken with resentments or fears or falling into complacency to name just a few.  My severest tests come from my own sense of weakness and failure to be the kind of person I think God would want me to be.  In the face of these tests, the temptation comes to focus on myself, to think that if I just try harder things will change.  This strategy always ends in discouragement and despair.

In the face of trials, instead of responding with self-effort or self condemnation, God is looking for our simple faith.  He is not impressed when I agonize over my failures or promise him that I will do better next time. What he is looking for is childlike trust. Can I trust him that he understands the struggles I go through and that he has the power to transform me?  Can I wait on him and trust him even when I feel so out of it? Can I trust him to make my life significant, and to fulfill the plans he has for me?  

When all the people saw the things Jesus did, they wanted to do the same thing.  Jesus said it clearly, "The only thing God wants from you is that you would believe in me." (John 6:29).  We have no idea the power released as we believe in him moment by moment.  Even when we feel our faith is weak, it is still powerful because it connects us to the Powerful One.  Let us remember, when we think we need to try harder or are ready to give up in despair, to activate our faith. 

Lord, I believe that you have all the resources necessary to change me.  Help me not to dwell on myself, but to activate my faith muscle and put all of my trust in you.  I know I will be able to accomplish so much more and with such a better attitude when my eyes are on you.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.

 Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.

 But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NLT)

Incremental Improvement

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Phil 1:6 (NLT)

One day as I walked by a Cholla close to the walkway at the clubhouse, I noticed two baby birds hunkered down in a nest.  Each day as I walked by, I'd check on the little creatures. 

 

Soon fuzz began to appear and they were always ready with their mouths wide waiting for a morsel from mama.

 

One day, I checked the nest and the babies weren't there.  I looked and there I saw one sitting on a branch in the cactus.  The next day, there it was again just sitting there. The day after, it was gone.  The little bird had grown its feathers and flown.







Those little birds were nurtured along until they were able to be on their own just as God nurtures us so that we will grow into maturity.  Often, the growth is imperceptible.  We grow by small increments each day until one day we realize we have made a little progress. We find that something we were not able to do before becomes easier for us.  Or, instead of having our usual negative reaction we actually respond in a positive way.

Its a little like my golf game.  It seems I'm not making any progress, yet each day I make a few more good shots.  Other days, things continue to go wrong but I know if I keep my eyes on the prize and continue to work at it I will improve and change will come - incremental, imperceptible change.  We can't expect to be changed overnight, but if we continue in faith, praying and believing change will come in God's time.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Phil 2:13 (NLT)

Fearless

So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. 

 You should behave instead like God's very own children,

 adopted into his family - calling him Father, dear Father.

 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts 

and tells us that we are God's children. 

 Romans 8:15-16 (NLT)

Another benefit of being filled with God's spirit is freedom from fear.  There are many things that can cause fear to arise in us.  We may not know God very well and imagine him to be an arbitrary and cruel dictator waiting to crush us at the first misstep.  Or, we may be living in fear of others, always trying to please and never being ourselves.  Or, we may fear the future wondering if something bad will happen to us.  God's word addresses each one of these fears.

First, when we come to know and experience the fullness of God's love it changes our whole perspective.  His spirit joins with our spirit giving us assurance that we are his children and have nothing to fear. We no longer cower before him but begin to develop a trusting relationship.  We begin to call him Father, dear Father.

Fear has to do with punishment, but God does not punish us because Jesus has already taken all of the punishment we deserve.  He does discipline us, though. As a loving father he disciplines us as we need it for our growth and development, but we need not fear his actions knowing that they will always be for our good.   

Love crowds out fear.  As his love is perfected in us, our fears begin to subside.  The more we understand and experience God's love the less fear and apprehension we will have.  If we know we are his and he our loving father there will be no room for fear.

Lord, help us to come to know deep in our hearts that we belong to you and that you are our loving father from whom we have nothing to fear.  

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.

 If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,

 and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

1 John 4:18 (NLT)

The Mystery of Prayer

I tell you, you can pray for anything, 

and if you believe that you’ve received it,

 it will be yours.  

Mark 11:24 NLT

We can ask for whatever we want and we will receive?!?  How can this be? - It is the amazing mystery of prayer. 

God tells us to ask and keep on asking and we will receive whatever we ask for in his name - that is, according to his perfect will and plan.  When we ask for good things for ourselves and others, God is delighted to hear our prayers and delighted to answer them.  We don't know how he will do it or when - he has all time and eternity at his disposal - but, we can be assured, because he has told us so, that he is working in every situation to bring our pray to fulfillment.

He asks us to pray without doubt. Doubt arises when we think too much, when we try to figure things out. We think, "How will he do it and when? It seems so impossible that it could ever happen."  When we doubt, we are focusing on ourselves.  When we believe, we are focusing on the one of whom it is said "nothing is impossible." (Luke 1:37)  He just asks us to present our requests believing and leaving all the how? and when? to him. 

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thes. 5:17).   Like breathing, prayer can be a constant and automatic part of our lives.  Prayer can be our first response to every event and circumstance. We can participate in God's work by praying for all people, people we don't even know. Prayer expands us. It helps us to get out of ourselves and pay attention to the needs of those around us.  Prayer opens us to the presence of God.

I know, Lord, that you have heard all of my prayers.  Prayers for myself, my loved ones and friends and those I have never met, for health and happiness, for strength and salvation and you will answer them all in your time and in your way.  Thank you.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power

 and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16 (NLT)

So we have not stopped praying for you

 since we first heard about you.

Col 1:9 (NLT)

Opportunities

The New Driveway

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

A storm is on the way!  Now we will see if our new driveway will stand the test.

Three Biblical writers (James, Peter & Paul) exhort us to look at the storms and trials of our lives with joy and to endure them with patience because it is storms and trials that provide opportunities for growth and spur us on toward maturity.  Our goal as Christians is to grow into maturity, to grow in love, to grow into his image. 

No matter what comes against us, what difficulties and disagreements we face, trials present for us opportunities. Every test is an opportunity to trust God or to trust in ourselves.  Tests can give rise to opportunities to assert self-will, to become resentful or angry, fearful or anxious.  But they also provide opportunity to throw ourselves completely on God and trust that he will work it for good. 

As we grow we come to realize that no matter what difficulties we face his love will win.  We see that difficulties are the breeding ground for new hope and new love. Every trial becomes an opportunity to surrender our way to God's, to present ourselves as vessels of his love trusting that his love will never fail.

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to 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.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,

 for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character, 

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

Meek

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matt 5:5 (NIV) 

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

Psalms 37:11 (NIV) 

When we come into a place of meekness, of dependence and trust in God, we become heirs of all good things.  Being an heir is a very special and privileged position.  We often envy heirs because they come into the family riches without having to work for it.  We have a very rich dad and all the family riches are ours.  He lavishes all good things upon his children with great wisdom, not spoiling his children but blessing them in response to their work of faith.  Then the heirs are in a position to take over the family business and spread all those good things around to others. Everything belongs to us.  Because of our trust in him we have no worries or cares because we know he has all the resources and supply to take care of whatever needs we may have.  

The blessing and happiness of this condition is beyond description.  To walk with him in this way is the way of joy and peace.  The meek eventually inherit all things because they have put their trust not in their own ability or strength to earn and build and possess but because they have put their trust in the one who already owns everything and will pass it on to his heirs.  His heirs are those of his family who have also inherited his nature, not the grasping, grabbing ones, but the meek and gentle ones. 

For everything belongs to you— 

whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, 

or the world, or life and death,

 or the present and the future.

 Everything belongs to you,

and you belong to Christ,

 and Christ belongs to God.

1 Cor 3:21-23 (NLT)

Centered

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

 continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, 

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

 and overflowing with thankfulness. 

See to it that no one takes you captive 

through hollow and deceptive philosophy,

 which depends on human tradition 

and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

  and you have been given fullness in Christ,

 who is the head over every power and authority.

Col 2:6-10 (NIV)

In the midst of the world filled with its opinions and ideas, we have Christ as our center.  There is nothing in all the world that can compare with Christ himself. Ultimately, if we make him the center of our lives, we will succeed. 

We are bombarded on every side by differences of opinion.  So many are trying to figure things out, one from this perspective and one from another.  Our life histories have conditioned us to see things in a certain way.  Even when we discuss scripture, everyone brings out verses that prove their point.  Each side may seem to have some merit, so our minds become confused.  We must come back to our true foundation - Christ himself.  Ultimately, our faith is in Christ. The Bible, the written word, is there to point us to Christ, the living word. The church exists to help us stay on track by reminding us of Christ our center and to join us with other members of his body

Things that do not point us to Christ are distractions.  It may be interesting to listen to arguments and discussions, but ultimately if they do not end by saying Christ is the center they are off target.  What is the deception? - that something else will fulfill us, another person, a group, an institution, ourselves.  There is no true fulfillment outside of Christ himself.  

“If the Christian is attached to some thing, such as a teaching, a tradition, an institution, a movement, or person, the end will certainly be a limitation of life and eventually confusion and disappointment.         T. Austin-Sparks

He is the truth, he is the way and he is life. (John 14.6). When someone asks, “What is truth?” or “Where is the truth in this?”- Jesus answers, “I am the truth.”  When someone asks, “Which way is the best?  Which way should we go?”- Jesus says, “I am the way.”  When someone asks, “Where is the true life? How do I find fulfillment in this life?” - Jesus says, “I am the life”.  He is the absolute center.  When we focus on him, miraculously, our questionings are not so important any more.  

In our union with Christ we are complete.  Our questions may still exist, but, the good news is we don't have to figure it all out. We may not perfectly understand everything, but if we are walking in him and trusting him, he will protect us and keep us going in the right direction.  We only need to follow the light we have been given.  It’s about walking with him - a living, breathing relationship. No matter where our lives take us, he is our center.  In the simplicity of our childlike relationship and trust in him all is supplied. 

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,

 so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,

 in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  

 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Col 2:2-4 (NIV)

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