Thanks for the trials

Ever feel overwhelmed by life?  Ever wonder when you will stop hitting the wall or running into roadblocks?

Sometimes we may blame God for challenges.  But, God promises to never give us more than we can handle.  He also promises He will provide a way out  when we are tempted. (I Corinthians 10:13)

While those verses reassure us, we may often still wonder: why?

Satan roams the earth looking for someone to devour. (I Peter 5:8)  Do you think he is interested in someone with atheistic beliefs?  I would imagine he is after those of us pursuing truth.  Those who are marked as God’s child, those God has called to himself.

Those are who Satan wants to challenge, and make stumble, and thoroughly frustrate. Think of Job.  We read Job was a righteous man, even offering sacrifices on behalf of his children before he knew of any sin.

God did limit what Satan could do to Job- Satan could not take his life.  But, Satan did steal his wealth, all his children, his livelihood, and temporarily, his health.

Job also realized loneliness in serving the Lord.  Yet Job never cursed God.  He never denied His existence.  When his good fortune abandoned him, Job refused to abandon his faith.

As we know from the end of Job, God later restored everything taken from Job, and even blessed the later portion of his life more than the former.

So when you are experiencing trials, know you must be doing something right. (Counter-intuitive!) Satan would not go after you if he did not perceive you as a threat. (Don’t I want to threaten him for a change?!)

Each trial we face also blesses us with an opportunity to draw even closer to God. (Seriously, I do not pen that lightly, this life can be extremely difficult.) But, if we allow ourselves to completely surrender to God, we will see His answer.  It may not be what we thought, it may not be how we imagined, but it will be blessed by God.

Good relationships are the ones which stand the trials over time.  Our relationship with our heavenly father grows and our faith is strengthened through trials.

Tips for surviving a trial:

1) Pray.  “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. Phil.4:6)  Give it to God.  Day by day, moment by moment, whatever it takes.

2) Control your thoughts.  “Whatever is true, nobel, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Phil 4:8)  Stay positive!

3) Take care of yourself.  Get enough rest, eat healthfully, and exercise. If you take care of your body, it will serve you better.

Reflection:

1) Look back over your life, identifying a few trials.

2) How did you handle them?  Did you let them grow your faith?

3) How are you better prepared to handle trials in the future?

4)If you are enduring a trial right now, please ask for prayer from people you trust.  Please feel free to email me for  confidential prayer.

Please return by Monday, April 23, for the next post.