WHAT IS SO POSITIVE ABOUT TRIALS?

God is interested in transforming believers into His image more than anything else. As such, He places our comfort secondary to the change He wants to bring about in our lives. This goal of personal transformation is achieved, to a large extent, through trials.

                                                                      

Recently, a friend shared that there is some misconception about the place of trials in the life of believers. People conveniently attribute all suffering to the work of Satan, which is a deception and far from reality, he added. http://bit.ly/1Iedif1 

For the believer to grow toward maturity, he must understand that God is interested in the ‘bigger-picture’ of his life, rather than his comfort. It is through trials that God moulds a believer into His likeness. However, it is sad that the local church seldom teaches its members to embrace suffering for the sake of Christ and personal transformation.

                                                                            

“And the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1Peter 5:10).

Of course, it does not mean we intentionally inflict pain upon ourselves like masochists. Rather, we need to reframe our thinking and view trials as something positive (James 1:2-3).

Broadly speaking, there are two main reasons why a believer suffers. First, God allows him to go through suffering for his own good and personal growth. Second, He chastises him for disobedience in order to bring him back to Himself.

                                                                       

The passage in Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that divine correction is part of our growth into Christlikeness. Discipline is about learning, not punishment. The attitude a person adopts amid trials determines what he gets out from divine discipline. A person is not deemed to have truly changed just because, when viewed by others, he behaves differently. Rather, when he sees who he is in Christ—realises his identity in Christ—he spontaneously changes from within.

                                                                       

God-ordained suffering is necessary for growth whereas chastisement is optional. Before every believer lies two approaches to suffering: One, to see nothing good in it and to loath it—this attitude will consign him to a life of endless misery and regret; the other, to see suffering as part of  God’s purpose and benefit from it. This will allow him to be transformed through God-ordained trials designed for his own good.

Brian Edwards writes: “Christianity is not about how to escape from the difficulties of life but how to face them.” A believer can never be the same after experiencing God-ordained suffering because, when he is down to nothing, God is up to something. God uses suffering to mould the believer into Christlikeness. For the sovereign God has a pre-determined purpose in every twist and turn of events in the believer’s life.

                                                                      

Trials are meant to make a person, not to break him. Thus, God ordains suffering not only to test his worthiness but make him more like Jesus. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1Peter 4:12). “Man that is born of a woman us of few days and full of troubles” (Job 14:1).

God’s intention is that a believer becomes a better person through trials—that he may experience Him, be dependent upon Him, be delivered by Him and glorify Him. God never intends suffering to destroy the faith or life of the believer.

God-ordained trials derail the believer’s plans and upset his expectations. They are unforeseen events that interrupt his schedule or maladies that affect his health. But he needs to learn how to manage these disruptions.

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones states: “It is a fundamental principle in the believers’ walk of faith that we must always be prepared for the unexpected when we are dealing with God.” The only thing certain in life is that nothing is certain.   

The English word ‘tribulation’ comes from the Latin word ‘tribulum’, which is an instrument used to beat and separate the wheat from the chaff. This is what God-ordained suffering is all about—it removes negative values and develops godly virtues in the believer’s life. “Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience (character); and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).

William E. Cox states: “Scripture shows conclusively that God-ordained sufferings are a natural by-product of genuine Christianity.” Thus, crises do not make or break a person; they reveal what is in him. To grow in Christ, the believer needs an honest evaluation of himself and the crisis he is facing. He also needs to seek divine wisdom for a proper response.

John Killinger states: “Failure is the greatest opportunity I have to know who I really am.” But, from my personal observation, both leaders and members are afraid to face failure.

Lastly, God-ordained suffering is an antidote for pride. This was true in the case of the apostle Paul who had to be kept humble. “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7).

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Sometimes, we don’t like to admit that trials are an integral part of the Christian experience as much as blessings and victories. However, the process of growing into maturity involves learning to persevere through trials and arriving at a place of unshakeable faith.

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BLESSINGS FROM GOD, TRIALS FROM SATAN?

The other day someone shared on Facebook: “Trials and suffering are designed by the devil against believers. God only wants to bless believers.” 

Does God only bless believers and exempt them from facing trials?

It is clear that God had allowed satan to afflict these saints, Job and Paul.

When Job lost his children, wealth and health, he did not get any clear answer as to why he had to endure such pain. Earlier, a deal was struck whereby God allowed satan to afflict Job as long as his life was spared.

Similarly, Paul did not get any clear answer from God for his sufferings. Given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from satan, he sought relief from God but was told: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

However, it does not mean that all trials are from satan. Sometimes trials are due to rash decisions, sins and adverse circumstances in life such as floods or retrenchment due to economic downturn.

But whatever the cause, God can use trials and tribulations to shape the character of believers —for their own good. God loves His children and desires to bless us (Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 28: 1-6). However, God does not exempt us from having to go through trials.

                                                                       

The half-truth that is bandied around in church circles is the “feel good” teaching that God will always bless us with “goodies” in life such as success, health and wealth. Trials and tribulations are downplayed—as if they play an insignificant role in the life of believers.

Such “feel good” teaching works beautifully during good times. But the crunch comes when its adherents face crises—such as retrenchment, incurable disease, failed marriage or persecution. They may then become disillusioned; some may even leave the faith.

Believers who are accustomed only to “fair weather” are likened to the seeds that fell upon rocky ground and among the thorns (Luke 8:13-14). As the challenges of the spiritual race (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27) have not been emphasised to them, they often lack the ability to endure trials (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

Sometimes, we don’t like to admit that trials are an integral part of the Christian experience as much as blessings and victories. We may even feel that God has forsaken us while facing such trials (Psalm 77: 8-9). But the truth is God will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6).   http://bit.ly/1graob4

In fact, the process of growing into maturity involves learning to persevere through our trials and doubts, and arriving at a place of unshakeable faith (James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12:11 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-17). http://bit.ly/1imb1GN

If we feel faint as we go through trials, we need to focus on Jesus—the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

• God has put us through trials because He is treating us as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Hebrews 12:7).

• A servant is not greater than his or her master. Even so, believers who are His servants cannot be exempted or shielded from pain.

• “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

To conclude, let’s reflect again on the above premise: “Trials and suffering are designed by the devil against believers. God only wants to bless believers.”  Is it true or false? Or is it a half-truth? 

It is true that God sometimes allows satan to inflict suffering on believers as illustrated in the lives of Job and Paul. God not only blesses believers with “goodies” in life but often uses trials to shape our character. Trials definitely have a positive role to play in the life of believers.

                                                                        

Conversely, if material blessings were the sole indicator of God’s favour, then drug dealers, human traffickers and mafia bosses would be deemed “spiritual giants”. While those who consult shamans sometimes get to enjoy temporal blessings—miraculous cures or lottery winnings—they have sold their souls to satan. Now who says satan cannot “bless” us?

References

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you” (2 Corinthians 4:8-12).

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

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