We all have trials –
problems and unpleasant circumstances that come into our lives.
Depending on what the trial or problem is, we are likely to
experience a variety of emotions and feelings as we try to deal with
it and figure out how to handle it. What is your first response when
a trial comes along? When you're confronted with a problem, what do
you do?
I've been pondering this
today, and here are some of the ways I tend to respond....
1. Fear.... There is a
reason that fear is first on my list, and that's because my initial
reaction to a problem is probably most often fear. As soon as
something that looks like a trial comes along, I start to worry. How
will I handle this? What if ___________ happens? What if, what if,
what if?
2. Frustration..... Once I get past my first response of fear, I often tend to be frustrated by the trouble that has come into my life. Why did this have to happen and mess up my carefully laid out plans? Why does my life and my agenda have to be interrupted by this? I might even feel angry that I have to be dealing with the trial that I am experiencing.
3. Self-Pity..... Another common reaction when I am confronted with a trial is to pity myself. Why do these kinds of things always happen to me? I might compare my life to the lives of others around me, and find that my life seems to be lacking. Why do I have to go through something like this, while everyone else around me seems to be doing just fine?
Reading my Bible today, I came across a familiar verse. I've read this verse countless times. I've memorized it and written it out and taped it onto my mirror. But no matter how many times I read it, it seems like I am always taken aback by it. I'm startled by what it asks of me. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds....” (James 1:2) Wait...... WHAT?? Consider this trial to be a source of joy? Recognize that this problem can bring me joy? Rejoice while I'm going through this trial? Really? Yes. Really. I have to admit that I used to look at this verse as a nice suggestion, but I've come to realize that it's something that God actually wants and intends for us to do. This is not something that comes naturally! Rejoicing is just about the last thing that I feel like doing when I'm going through a trial. It would make more sense to me if God told me to trust Him while I'm going through a trial. But He asks us to rejoice during the troubled times.
Thankfully, instead of just
telling us to rejoice as we're going through a trial and leaving it
at that, God tells us why we can do that. “Count it all joy my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that
the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) God wants us to
look beyond the trial – look to Him – and recognize that he is
doing something.
When we are going through a
trial, our faith is being tested. God is at work in our life! This
trial is developing patience and steadfastness in us, so that we can
grow to become more like Christ. Romans 8:28 tells us “And we
know that for those who love God all things work together for good
for those who are called according to His purpose.” God can
use a trial that comes into our life to make us more like Christ. Is
this not one of the best “good things” that can happen for us?
Lord, when the trials and
the hard times come, help us to rejoice, knowing that You are working
all things for our good. Shift our focus from the problem and
ourselves and help us to fix our eyes on You. Help me to lay aside the fear, frustration and self-pity that come so naturally, and choose instead to rejoice in You and in what You are doing in my life.
In the hard times You
work patience and steadfastness in us, shaping us to become more and
more like Christ. Thank you, Lord.
