Trials

Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks.  There’s nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart.  The true character f a person is seen not in momentary heroics, but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living….
Begin by thanking God for thumps.  I don’t mean a half-hearted thank you.  I mean a “rejoicing, jumping for joy” thank you from the bottom of your heart.  Chances are that God is doing the thumping.  And he’s doing it for your own good.  So every thump is a reminder that God is molding you….
Beware of “thump-slump” times.  Know your pressure periods.  For me, Mondays are infamous for causing thump-slumps.  Fridays can be just as bad.  For all of us there are times during the week that we anticipate an unusual amount of thumping.  The best way to handle thump-slump times?  Bolster yourself with extra prayer and don’t give up.
Remember, no thump is disastrous.  All thumps work for good if we are living for and obeying God.

(From On the Anvil by Max Lucado)

Job 23:10

But he knows where I am going. And when he has tested me like gold in a fire, he will pronounce me innocent.

In chapter 22, Eliphaz had tried to condemn Job by identifying some secret sin that he may have committed. Here Job declares his confidence in his integrity and God’s justice. We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don’t even know about because God’s standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect. If we are true believers, however, all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross in our behalf (Romans 5:1; 8:1). The Bible also teaches that even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20). His forgiveness and cleansing are sufficient; they overrule our nagging doubts. The Holy Spirit in us is our proof that we are forgiven in God’s eyes even though we may feel guilty. If we, like Job, are truly seeking God, we can stand up to others’ accusations as well as our own nagging doubts. If God has forgiven and accepted us, we are forgiven indeed.

Psalm 94:12

Happy are those whom you discipline, LORD,
and those whom you teach from your law.

At times, God must discipline us to help us. This is similar to a loving parent disciplining his child. The discipline is not very enjoyable to the child, but it is essential to teach him or her right from wrong. The Bible says that “no discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). When you feel God’s hand of correction, accept it as proof of his love. Realize that God is urging you to follow his paths instead of stubbornly going your own way.

Proverbs 3:11

My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you.

Discipline means “to teach and to train.” Discipline sounds negative to many people because some disciplinarians are not loving. God, however, is the source of all love. He doesn’t punish us because he enjoys inflicting pain but because he is deeply concerned about our development. He knows that in order to become morally strong and good, we must learn the difference between right and wrong. His loving discipline enables us to do that.

It’s difficult to know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later. Not every calamity comes directly from God, of course. But if we rebel against God and refuse to repent when God has identified some sin in our life, he may use guilt, crises, or bad experiences to bring us back to him. Sometimes, however, difficult times come even when there is no flagrant sin in our life. Then our response should be patience, integrity, and confidence that God will show us what to do.

Romans 5:3

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure.

For first-century Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance—which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in his strength (see also James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6, 7).

1 Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to God.

My Ramblings

The problems and obstacles we encounter in life are meant to cultivate faith, wisdom, patience, and confidence.  We can profit from facing such obstacles as we allow God to shape our character through them.  What events today could bring obstacles into your path?  Ask God to increase your faith through those difficulties.

One of the ways you may be thumped is to make you wait.  This also will help shape your character.  It will help you depend on our LORD God.  It also gives you time for conversations with God, otherwise known as prayer and listening for answers.  It also gives you time to work on Loving God with your whole heart, mind soul and strength.  It might even give you time to show that love by loving His other children.

Waiting is an awesome time for developing a closer and stronger relationship with who should be  your best friend, Jesus Christ.