Happy Monday!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. If you’ve popped over from reading my devotion, then you know that one of the reasons God uses trails in our lives to test our commitment. When you face some trial in your life, what is your first response?
• Trust God
• Question God
• Run and hide
• Blame someone for my troubles
• Become discouraged
If you’ve been reading my post, then you know that my son has had a tough time the past few weeks. Not only has he been sick with Chickenpox and allergies, but he’s been in a batting slump. Discouraged, he asked, “Why is this happening to me, mom?”
I knew exactly where he was coming from. I’ve faced trails in my own life that have caught me off guard and caused me to question God, too. We all have. And yet, Peter has this to say.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Peter also says, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6,7).
While Peter confirms that genuine faith is produced by our testing’s and trials, he also has something comforting to say. Though the hardship is necessary for our faith, it will only last for a little while. Anything can be endured for a little while. Think about the winter months. How is it that we survive the cold bitter snows of winter? We do so because we know they will not last forever. Spring is coming.
We can also endure when we know the purpose of our trials.
Trials are to be expected in the life of the believer. They come to us because:
• We live in a fallen world.
• We are objects of satanic warfare.
• We are our own source of trials through disobedience, sin, bad choices, or wrong decisions.
• And some trials originate with God—for:
Cleansing and purification for greater service
Testing our endurance and our devotion to Christ
Demonstrate His power to sustain us
Building up of our faith
What’s our response? You and I are to…
• Trust God by recalling His faithfulness in past experiences
• Preserve and endure
• Look to what the trail is accomplishing. 1 James 2-4 states that our trails are making us perfect, complete (or mature), and lacking in nothing. You and I can experience joy instead of discouragement when we look ahead to the result of our testing.
• Remember that God is allowing this in my life for something good, and that He is going to demonstrate His sustaining power in my life. God is going to prosper me through this trial no matter how painful it is right now.
A part of me wanted to rescue my son from his heartache. But that would have only caused him an injustice. God was not just building his faith these past weeks. He’s been building his character. That’s the ultimate goal. And God will allow whatever necessary to accomplish that goal in each of our lives.
The truth is…you and I will encounter trials and heartaches in life, but we have Christ to walk through them with us. We don’t have to depend on artificial means of coping because we’ve got God living on the inside of us. He will sustain us through any and every trial in life. In the end, we will become His trophies of grace.
Angela @ Refresh My Soul Blog says
Hey girly! God something for you over at my blog.
Much love,
Angela
Julie Gillies says
Hi Micca,
What an excellent post.
I confess that when I go through rough times I question God. Yet He goes through those hard times with me, and He is indeed building His character into me.
Blessings!
MrsProverbs31 says
Hi Micca,
I wanted to let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your speech at She Speaks 2008. I love the demonstration/illustration.
Your devotional through p31 today really touched me. I am in a constant financial test. I feel like I’m having financial (like giving birth) contractions. Oh my goodness-this is awesome. At the end of the contraction, there’s this beautiful baby. Except for me, the contractions continue with no rest in-between.
I’m not without hope. But, I’ve exhausted from these contractions.
Anyway, God is good. He’s been so faithful and true.
Many blessings! Shoua
Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam says
We are doing a “God watch” in our home. My husband’s company has been bought out and they are transitioning all the NC jobs to TX. I am excited to see all that HE will reveal to us during this test time of job uncertainty. I can’t wait to see what He will provide, and all the ways He will demonstrate His faithfulness to our children (and us) in the process.
Amanda Miner says
Hello,
I was reminded by a saying I learned early, When I don’t understand the Hand of God, I trust the Heart of God knowing He wants the great instead of the good.
Amanda Miner
Sharon Sloan - Joy In The Truth says
Hi, Micca!
Your devotion and post are a blessing and encouragement. I can relate, wanting to “rescue” our kids from trials. But they are growth opportunities and character building necessities. We would miss out so much on what God wants to show us all about His character.
Thanks for sharing your heart and God’s love! 🙂
Sharon
Vern ~ Inspired says
Micca!!
Loved your devotion and blog today…He truly has done Great Things!
You bless me my friend!
Love ya,
Vern
Tammy Nischan says
Micca,
Trying to pass the test….thank you for your words!
Love, Tammy
Shanda says
Micca,
I too truly enjoyed your illustration about trusting God at She Speaks this year. It was a powerful visual reminder.
It is when we are real before God and allow ourselves to voice the questions of our hearts that He is able to answer and fill us with faith. When we strive to be the “perfect Christian” during trials telling ourselves that it isn’t alright to pour our questions out before the Lord that He is unable to take us deeper with Him. Trials can be an invitation to draw close to Him.
Praying with a “moms heart” that your son will allow his character to be built right now.
Sweet Blessings!
Shanda
seesawfaith says
Girl, you must have been in my marriage over the weekend. We not only went down a bad trail but were trying to jump over the guard-rail. The bad thing is it isn’t an unfamiliar path. We are dusting ourselves off right now and getting ready to clear the path and start a new trail (to carry on with your theme). Sometimes it takes a few days to process what is true and what needs to be left behind.
This was such a wonderful post for me today. It was helpful to have it pointed out to me so clearly that there are reasons for these conflicts and sadly, I didn’t turn to God first, second or even later. I am just now getting around to letting him “help me”. Even though these are the things that will eventually show as stepping stones in my growth to God it really causes me to be disappointed in myself over my own pridefulness.
What amazing timing God has.
Thanks Micca.
elaine @ peace for the journey says
Bless his pure heart and his honest reflection. Some things, we can’t take from them. We simply have to walk it through with them. Like our children, there are some things that God allows us and promises his presence in the midst of our walking. How thankful I am for his presence. It is everything to me. Everything.
peace~elaine
Mari says
Micca:
Thank you for this. I think we all need to be reminded that God does have our best interests at heart, even when our circumstances scream otherwise. May we all remain faithful on our journey to become “trophies of grace”.
Holly says
Love the 1 Peter verses Micca!
Thanks –
holly