Trials and Circumstances

Did you know that in the economy of God trials are often the gift that nobody wants. And if you want to grow in your walk with the Lord and deepen your faith in Jesus then trials and tribulations are God’s way of achieving both. (1 Peter 1:6-7) says: “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

You see trials are God’s vehicles that He uses to provide us with opportunities to bring glory to our Savior, advance His kingdom, and give the devil a black eye. Instead of looking at these trials as something negative I choose to look at them as, not only a necessary part of the Christian walk, but as a gift from our heavenly Father that he uses to make us great in His sight. Pastor Timothy Keller states this well when he says: “No one is exempt from trials and tribulations. In fact, this is often what happens to people God loves very much, for it is part of God’s often mysterious and good plan for turning us into something great.”1

We often look at trials creating negative consequences in our lives and placing us in difficult circumstances. While this may be true, Pastor Steven Furtick shares a key observation when he says: “Be governed by your calling, not your circumstance.”2  If you know that the Lord is in your circumstances and that you are in His will then rejoice because God has great plans to bless and use you for His purposes. So, don’t be like the pessimist who sees the glass as half empty. And don’t even be like the optimist who sees the glass as half full. But be like the Christian who says my cup runs over.

So, let’s use the trials in our lives to develop our Christian character since that is what they are designed to do. If we view trials as negative circumstances, that God can use as opportunities to glorify Himself, then our faith will grow, our joy will increase, and we will put a smile on God’s face.

Helen Keller said it well: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”3 Stephen Covey added: “Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition – such as lifting weights – we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.”4 But I believe that Charles Stanley summed it up best when he said: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”5

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1 Timothy Keller quote: No one is exempt from trials and tribulations. In fact… (azquotes.com)

2 Steven Furtick quote: Be governed by your calling, not your circumstance. (azquotes.com)

3 Helen Keller – Character cannot be developed in ease and… (brainyquote.com)

4 Opposition is… | Linda L Young – Alignment Artist

5 Quote by Charles Stanley: “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” (goodreads.com)