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The Purpose of Trials
Posted On: 02/25/2007 06:20:23
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No Matter how successful you are, we all face challenges, struggles, and times when things don't go our way. When calamities occur, some people immediately think they have done something wrong, that God must surely be punishing them. They don't understand that God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into there life. He doesn't send the problems, but sometimes He allows us to go through them. The Bible says temptations, trials, and difficulties must come, because if we are to strengthen our spiritual muscles and grow stronger, we must have adversities to overcome and resist the attacks. As odd as this may seem, the trials can be beneficial. It's in the tough and darkest times of our life that we find out what we're really made of. The pressure exposes things that we need to deal with -- things such as wrong attitudes, wrong motives, areas where we're compromising. The Scripture says, "Don't be amazed at the fiery ordeal that's taking place to test your quality as though something strange was happening." The trial is intended to test our quality, to test our character, to test our faith. We shouldn't think it's a big deal when we go through these tough times. All through life, we face various test, and even though we may not enjoy them, God will use those trials to refine us, to cleanse and purify us. He's trying to shape us into the person He wants us to be. So if we'll learn to cooperate with God and not be quick to correct the areas that He brings to light, then we'll pass that test then He will be able to promote us to a new level He has for us. This past 4 years I've discovered more that in the my struggles of life, God is more interested in changing me than He is in changing my circumstances. I'm not saying that God won't change the circumstances. Certainly, He can, and often does. But most of the time, I'm tested in the areas where I am the weakest. You've probably found something similar to be true. If you have a problem with jealousy, doesn't it seem as though everybody you meet has more or better material possessions than you do. You notice that your best friend wears a brand-new outfit every time you turn around. The person you work next to, who makes half as much money as you do comes driving up in a brand-new car. Your long lost relative calls to tell you that she just won the lottery! Now, are you going to pass the test? Are you going to keep a good attitude and rejoice with those who rejoice and be sincerely happy for them? Or are you going to get all negative and bitter and say, "God, I work harder then they do. Nothing good ever happens to me. I go to church every Sunday. Why can't I get a new car?" That's a test of our faith. That's God bringing to light impurities in our character. That's God trying to refine us. And when we learn to work with God, and let go of all that jealousy, we'll be amazed at the blessing, favor, and victory that will come into our life. God deliberately uses situations in our life so that we can recognize the problems in our lives and learn to deal with it. He's working something out of us so He can work something in us, to rise us to a new level and be the person He really wants us to be. God will use people in our lives to reveal areas where we need to change. God may have purposely arranged for you to be in close proximity to that person who grates against you, He may be trying to teach you how to love your enemies, Or, He may be trying to toughen you up a little and teach you to have some endurance, to not run from everything that is hard, uncomfortable, or inconvenient. God is not going to change anyone or anything we're dealing with until He first changes us. We have to quit complaining, and instead start taking a good look on the inside, then start working with God to change us, then God will change those other people. Examine you own heart and see if there are attitudes and motives that you need to change. God often allows us to go through situations, to draw out those impurities in our character. And we can rebuke until "rebuke" wears out. We can pray, we can resist, we can loose, we can bind, we can sing and shout, we can do it all, but it's not going to do us any good! God is far more interested in changing us than He is in changing the circumstances. And the sooner we'll learn to cooperate with God, the sooner we'll get out of that mess. The quicker we learn the lesson and start dealing with those bad attitudes and start ruling over our emotions, the quicker we will go to that next level God has for us in our spiritual journey. We first must recognize the refining purpose of trials. We can't run from everything that's hard in our lives. God is trying to show us who and what we can be and learn from our circumstances. Perhaps you are in a trial, and you're praying for God to deliver you out of that situation. And that sure is a legitimate prayer, but maybe you're missing the point of why you were allowed to go through this trying time. We have to recognize that God wants to do a work in us. He's molding, and refining us. But we get so busy trying to evade the difficulty, the work is not being done. Maybe we're focused on all the circumstances and all the people around us that we haven't taken time to look deep inside and deal with the issues God is bringing to light. Perhaps you get worried and full of fear when important things don't go your way. Have you ever thought that God may be allowing those events to teach you to trust Him and to see if you will stay peaceful and calm in the midst of the storm? Maybe He's allowing some of that to teach you how to rule over your emotions. He may be trying to toughen you up, to help you develop some backbone and stability. "We often pray, God, if You will change my circumstances, then I'll change." No, it works the other way around. We have to be willing to change our attitudes and deal with those issues God brings up; then God will change those circumstances. God loves us far too much to allow us to go through life in mediocrity. He will often permit pressure to be applied to our life, to test us, and only when we past those test will we advance. He will put people and circumstances in our path that grate on us like sandpaper, but He will use them to rub off our rough edges. We may not always like it; we may not understand it, we may want to run from it, we may even resist it. But God is going to keep bringing up the issue, again and again, until we pass the test. The Bible says "We are [God's] workmanship." That means we are a work in progress, not a finished project. One way or the other, God is going to get His way. Now, Either we can learn the hard way, and fight, deny, get anger or we can come to our senses and say Okay, God, I'll do it Your way you know what your doing. You know what is best for me, even when I don't understand it now. I'll be calm; I'll be patient. So when those struggles of every day life come our way. We need to look deep inside and be quick to change. Be willing to deal with any issues that God brings up. Work with God in the refining process rather than fighting against Him. The Scripture says that God is the potter and we are the clay. Clay works best when it is pliable, malleable, and mold able. But if we are hard, crusty, and set in our own ways, God will have to pound away on that old, hard clay to get out the lumps. Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but we have to understand that our struggles may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion. The very thing that we are fighting against so tenaciously may be the springboard that catapults us to that new level of excellence that God so wants us to have. Our challenges may become our greatest assets. Perhaps like my adversity, yours was dropped in your path for a purpose. Perhaps it was there to challenge you, to strengthen you, to sharpen you, to keep you fresh, to keep you alive, active and growing. I don't quite understand my situation or why it happen, but God does, and He's going to use this situation to deliver His awesome plan He has for my life although it may not be as I planed. I know that God's ways are far more better then I could ever dream, hope, or imagine it could be. Granted, those adversity we are facing could very well be something that God is using to push and challenge us to do and be our best that we can be. The trial is a test of our faith, character, and endurance. So we can't give up, we can't quit. We can't whine and complain, saying God, why is all this happening to me.? Instead, we need to stand strong and fight the good fight of faith. God is giving us opportunity for promotion. It's the struggle that gives us the strength. Without opposition or resistance, there is no potential for progress. Without the resistance of air, an eagle can't soar. Without the resistance of water, a ship can't float. Without the resistance of gravity, you and I can't even walk. Yet our human tendency is to want everything easily. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts; there's no easy way to mature physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We must remain determined and work with God. The Bible says, "Work out your own salvation." Salvation is more than a onetime prayer. It is constantly working with God, dealing with the issues He brings up and keeping a good attitude, fighting through until we win the victory. God never promised that we wouldn't have adversity and challenges in life. He's word says the opposite, "Be truly glad!....These trials or only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure." So if our faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring us much praise, glory and honor on the day of His return. When we go though difficult times, and we will. We need to make sure we pass the test. We can't be stubborn and hardheaded. We need to recognize that God is refining us knocking off some of the rough edges. So we' need to stand strong and fight. God has called each of us to be the champions; we are destined to win. If we'll work with God and keep a good attitude, then no matter what comes against us, the Bible says that all things -- not just the good things in life, but all things -- will work together for good.
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