Trials of everyday life have a purpose

It is my privilege to write this article from Los Angeles. We travel to the Shepherd’s Conference every year at this time. It is my favorite week of the year. The weather was perfect today — sunny and warm. It’s great to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. Singing the great hymns with 3,500 men is overwhelming. There is a long line of godly men and women who have faithfully stood for the truth. It is my privilege to serve in the church. Serving in the church is a taste of heaven on earth. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of death will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). It is God’s building project. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). The only hope for our nation is found in the church.

In our country many people are suffering. Imagine the worst trial you could possibly face. For some this might be a financial crisis with the loss of one’s savings. For others it might be the loss of employment with the resulting loss of dignity. It might be a serious illness in your family or evil in the form of murder or robbery. At least some of these tragic events touch our families in one way or another. The book of Job reminds us that trouble is inevitable. “Man is born for trouble as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Even the most difficult trial can be positive if your perspective is right. Why do difficult circumstances come into our lives? Trials come for many reasons into our lives.

First, trials test the strength of our faith. Faith is a gift from God. True faith endures. The Reformers spoke about the perseverance of the saints. When Abraham was tested in Genesis 22 his faith endured. A great illustration of the way trials test the strength of our faith is found in 2 Chronicles 32:31. “God left him (King Hezekiah) alone only to test him, that he (God) might know all that was in his heart.” God didn’t need to know what was in Hezekiah’s heart. God is omniscient (all knowing). God tests us so we can find out. He assists us in doing a spiritual inventory of our lives. Tough circumstances demonstrate the strength or weakness of our faith. True, saving faith in Jesus Christ is resilient and tenacious. The stronger your faith the more useful you are to God.

Second, trials humble us. The Apostle Paul received abundant revelation from God. 2 Corinthians 12:7 reads, “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh.” God gave the Apostle Paul the ability to perform great miracles and write Scripture. Such unique gifts could have led him to be proud. God used the trial to cause Paul to depend upon him.

Always remember that humility is your greatest friend. God exalts the humble. Pride is your greatest enemy. God helps the humble but actively opposes the proud (1 Peter 5:5). Trials can prevent us from becoming overconfident in our own strength.

Third, trials wean us from worldly things. The longer we live the more we accumulate. We gain more furniture, cars, investments, cash and opportunities for travel. When trials come into your life and you reach out to worldly things, you discover they make no difference. These modern day idols mean absolutely nothing. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ offers meaning and hope.

In John 6:5-6 Jesus faced a crowd of 20,000 people. He asked Philip, “’Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?’ This Jesus was saying to him, for he himself knew what he was intending to do.” Jesus wanted to find out whether Philip looked to worldly resources or to him for the answer. Once the disciples’ inability to meet the need was established, Jesus demonstrated his supernatural, miraculous power.

Fourth, trials focus our thoughts upon heaven. When a believer dies we realize that our true home is in heaven. Difficult circumstances give a greater affection for what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Fifth, trials reveal what we truly love. Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac in Genesis 22? God always forbids human sacrifice. If we truly love God, we will thank him for what he is accomplishing. But if we love ourselves more than God, we will question God’s wisdom and become upset and bitter.

Sixth, trials teach us to value God’s blessings. Trials teach us the blessings of obedience. When we obey God even in the midst of adversity the result is God’s blessing. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus sweated great drops of blood at the thought of being separated from his father. Nevertheless, Jesus obeyed his father. Philippians 2:8-9 gives the results of the obedience of Jesus. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God has highly exalted him.” One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. The suffering of Jesus resulted in the father exalting him above all others.

Seventh, trials enable us to help others in their suffering. When you suffer, God comforts you (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). As God comforts and strengthens, this equips you to help others. The best person to help someone diagnosed with cancer is a cancer survivor.

The worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace. Greater strength is produced by trials. Your faith is strengthened and prepared for the next trial. God’s love for you is best seen not in your present circumstances. God’s love for you is best seen in that he sent his only son Jesus to die for your sins on the cross. Since Jesus has already done the greater thing (died for you), won’t he do the lesser thing (take care of you during this trial)? Trust him today.

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can contacted at ethanchansen@gci.net.