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God get me out of here! You feel walled in and as if the trial and path you are on is never-ending. That is what you yell the minute your life gets a little uncomfortable due to the trials you are in but God wants you to stay a while. Why? They are a growth opportunity!
Your life will always be filled with ups and downs, good times and bad. We live in a fallen world in which God, out of His overwhelming love gave us free will to make our own choices. The problem with that is some use that free will to their own selfishness and others suffer as a result.
The trials you go through produces character; they are blessings in disguise. They will draw out sin, that will hinder you. They will open your eyes to those things you are doing wrong. They may not be sin necessarily, but something that will hinder your path or growth or that of someone else. If someone else it may be something that you are enabling to stay on the wrong path.
Sometimes we need to practice tough love and allow our loved ones to fall at times that God may lift them up.
(James 1:2-7)
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
You can find joy, purpose, growth and soul cleansing in your trials and find passion and purpose in the process. Paul, who was Saul used to kill Christians and was blinded and when his eyes were opened, he gained his spiritual eyesight as well. Imagine how many people through the years have been blessed and touched by the words he has written in the New Testament. There are 27 books in the New Testament, Paul wrote half of them and half of what he wrote, was from prison!
Have you been going through a difficult season? Stop complaining and start crying out to God to open your eyes to see what He is trying to teach you. Above all else, stand firm, be immovable. Otherwise you are playing into Satan’s hands. Is that what you want? Did he die for you? Then stop whining and start praying!
(I Corinthians 15:58)
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Start relying on the Holy Spirit, He will give you strength, guidance and wisdom.
(Philippians 4:13)
“I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.”
(Isaiah 42:16)
“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.”
(Proverbs 2:6)
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Hold on to trust, remember what God has done for you, what He has done for all of mankind. Remember the love He has for you and for all men in doing it, and that should help you to remain in His love, remain in complete trust.
(Romans 4:20-21) –This verse is concerning Abraham when God promised him at the age of 85 that he would have his first-born son!
“Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.”
Trust Him as He leads you even if He is allowing trials. If He is, after all He has done for you then you can count that it is for a good reason and will turn out for your good. Do you want something you have never had? Then you must do something you have never done; you must trust God to lead you to and through your trials in the way He knows best.
(Romans 8:28)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Are you open to how God leads you through the trial?
1. The way—It may seem humble, Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, he dressed like everyone else in those times—not as a king as they envisioned.
2. The people He uses (research Paul and John Mark—Paul rejects John Mark because he deserted him and Barnabas earlier -Acts 15 and later when he was writing II Timothy during his 2nd imprisonment in Rome—he asks for John Mark saying that he is helpful to him. – (II Timothy 4:12)
3. His timing---Abraham and promised son-promised at age 85 born at age 100
4. The signs—A donkey to Balaam—(A prophet of God) and Balak – (king of Moab), Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel and Balaam told Him if God did not want him to, he would not be able to do so.
5. To Hear- (Elijah in the cave; Read I Kings 16-19)-God sent a strong wind, earthquake and fire. But Elijah could not hear. Then He spoke in a still small voice. Meaning you have to get still and shove the voices of worry, doubt, fear, anger etc. out of your head and heart and listen to Him. Get alone with Him.)
God can and will use anyone, do not discount anyone or anything. He will move mountains to save you, He will provide, protect and deliver you and give His angels charge over you. Trust Him, He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)
Learn to look for, and expect blessings in every trial. If God can birth so many letters from Paul that has blessed so many people through the ages, and Hannah through her baroness, birthed Samuel due to her promise to God who became a prophet, a priest, the first to anoint kings and the last of the judges, what will He do through you and birth out of your trials? Trust Him.
(PSALM 91)
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”