What comes into our minds when we hear the word trial? What if the word was catastrophe or tragedy? Divorce, the death of a spouse or child, loved ones with a crippling disease, infidelity, children walking away from God, great financial loss, the murder of a loved one, abuse within the family. When one of these occur in our lives what type of emotions grip our hearts and minds? When more than one occurs, then how do we respond? Trials bring many responses.
Trials bring: Fear & Worry – Disciples in ship (Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.)
Doubt – Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?)
Questions – Man born blind (John 9:1-3 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.)
Unbelief – father with demon-possessed child (Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.)
Self-Sufficiency – Abraham child (Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.)
Self-Sufficiency – Peter cutting off ear in the garden (Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.)
A Fix without God – Woman with issue of blood (Mark 5:25-27 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.)
Denial & Anger – Peter (Matthew 26:69-74 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.)
Disbelief – Job’s wife (Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.)
Why would trials bring about all these emotions, thoughts and outbursts? I believe one of the reasons is our unrealistic expectations that we have of God. Our unrealistic, unmet and irrational expectations that we have of God will result in a whole host of emotions (as noted above). Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
An unmet or unrealistic expectation of God coupled with a trial or heartache will spell devastation and catastrophe for anyone.
I’m not ascribing to God all the evil or wrong that people do. But the fact is that there are times that He does not intervene and has allowed the trial or catastrophe to occur.
We have the POTENTIAL in every problem, trial, tragedy, and catastrophe to bring God honor and glory. But we will need a biblical outlook and manner of life to do so!
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The greatest trial a person could ever go through was what Christ endured for you and I to be the sacrificed in our place.
Christ had an expectation to go through the trial, to embrace the trial, to rejoice and look to the results that the trial would bring, not His present suffering. Because of this attitude, philosophy or thought process, He thrived through His trials and as a result, we can too!
When my expectation is the realization that I was created for the honor and glory of God then I should not have any unmet, unrealistic or irrational expectations of God.
John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Sickness can be for the glory of God
Death can be for the glory of God
Blindness can be for the glory of God
We all have a different capacity to handle trials. But whatever your capacity is, God knows it.
But may I encourage us to embrace our trials not for what they are but for what God can accomplish through them in our lives! (Embrace through Grace)
Comments
Post a Comment