Working Through Trials
Jesus said that our lives will be punctuated by trials and trouble (John 16:33). Every one of us will suffer many and varied trials; some in lesser or greater degree; and they can occur at any time. No one is exempt. Even those of us in the family of God are not exempt. In fact, it is likely that we will feel stronger blows simply because we are in the family of God. Jesus, God’s own dearly loved Son, did not have a comfortable life. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3). It was necessary that Christ “learned obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8), and we, too, follow the path of suffering in becoming “conformed to the image of his son” (Rom. 8:29), and the “fellowship of his sufferings” (Php. 3:10).
The apostle Paul’s life was full of trials and testing, which he lays out in stark detail in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. We may not match Paul’s extraordinary life but if we identify as a co-worker of Christ, we must expect suffering, as well as being slighted and even despised by the world, because our treasure is in heaven. There is nothing that the world can give us that matches the life that Christ purchased for us in paradise.
Our trials are always hidden within God’s secret will, but his revealed will tells us encouraging news. God is always true to his attributes. He is compassionate, he is kind, he is merciful, and he loves and cares for us. And we take comfort in the thought that we have Jesus in heaven who understands the feeling of our infirmities: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. This is the distilled wisdom of God’s revealed will, as found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Or as 1 Corinthians 10 puts it, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Every person made in the image of God is obligated to obey this edict; ignorance is no excuse. When the inevitable trials come our way our chief end is still to glorify God through those trials. James even tells us to “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” (James 1:2-4). This is a standard above and beyond what even Paul struggled with when he said “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Rom. 7:18).
I confess that when I face a trial my first thoughts are the how, the why, and what means I have at my disposal to deal with the particular problem. But Paul has actually given us a process to deal with our trials. He says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Php. 4:6). Paul’s advice “be anxious for nothing” is similar to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, telling us not to “worry about your life” (Matt. 6:25). At the outset, we must have the right attitude to anything that throws us into turmoil. How many times we worry about things that don’t even eventuate; or worry about trivial issues that we should simply ignore or dismiss. A Christian friend of ours told us he has a syndrome called ‘I-don’t-care-syndrome’. We like this syndrome because so many things are not important and not worth the worry. In saying be anxious for nothing Paul is saying we are not to be overwrought and getting in a state over the particular trial we are faced with. We have a friend in Jesus (John 15:15), indeed he is closer than that, he is our bridegroom (Luke 5:34-35), the closest of all unions. He has taken all our sins on himself, declares that we have been united with him, he has a deep and tender love for us, and he has promised to sit with us on his throne in the next kingdom. These rewards are all undeserved on our part, but blood bought on Jesus’ part. Pure grace has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness into a future of eternal bliss. Being in Christ is treasured over any trial that we endure in this short time of our earthly pilgrimages.
The spiritual benefits we enjoy help us to understand the backdrop to the bold injunction to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). The benefits to a believer involve meditation on the way God personally progresses the path of our salvation to glory,and how he providentially orders the accomplishment of his plans for us. A believer also understands the benefits of submission to a God who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, and undertakes for him in all the affairs of his life. He can also calmly rest in a God who “works all things together for good to those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).
Paul’s command “be anxious for nothing” sets the framework for a good mindset to go about dealing with the affliction besetting us. We must be calm and measured in our approach, so it is imperative that we channel within us a deep well of gratitude for those spiritual benefits we have been speaking of, so that we are not overcome by inordinate grief or undue concern by the affliction pressed upon us. Paul alludes to this framework for a correct mindset in his letter to the Thessalonian believers. He placed in a continuum of verses “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Again, the requirement to rejoice in the Lord comes before prayer and thanksgiving. If followed, the whole process results in peace, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Php. 4:7). The peace of God gives a comfortable sense of his favour; the entrance of his word into our hearts and minds; and calmness and serenity.
Similarly, Peter calls us to “cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). There are multiple references to Jesus showing his concern for all those who are going through the dark places, affirming he will answer our prayers. “Abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire,and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). When he walked this earth, Jesus healed “all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people… those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics” (Matt 5:23-24); not to mention the raising of the dead. He had a heart for people. Our part is to believe in our hearts that he will answer our prayers. Believing prayer is powerful. Believing prayer can be bold, like in Acts 4; “when they prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). Our prayer can even be dogged, when Jacob remonstrated with God until he blessed him (Gen. 32:26).
We should model ourselves on Elijah, whose prayers were “powerful and effective” (James 5:16). We may not be as bold and courageous as Elijah, perhaps we’re shy or modest, but “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). If prayer does not come naturally to you, remember that brief and cursory prayers are fine; “the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24). God has also told us “that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking I will hear” (Is. 65:24). And our Father “knows the things you have need of before you ask him” (Matt. 6:8). Nevertheless, God has also said, “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of me to do this for them” (Ezek. 36:37).
We have seen Paul’s plan to deal with our trials both in Philippians 4:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. In both cases prayer is followed by thanksgiving. It is fitting that our petitions be accompanied by thanks and grateful acknowledgement that God hears our prayers; that he knows exactly what we need; that he does everything in perfect order and truth; and that he will bring to bear his infallible will to fruition. To the extent our prayers are not in accordance with his will, we should graciously acknowledge that we will accept his will, not ours. The psalms of David invariably end on a note of praise and thanksgiving. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).
When we suffer any affliction we naturally use the means which God provided in the way of medical and other assistance. However, we also naturally come to God with the spiritual means he has provided in his word of talking with him in prayer. What we have established is the importance of approaching God with a mindset involving:
- Framing our requests in a reverent way knowing that we are addressing Almighty God. But we also have an intimate relationship with him since we are adopted in his family by grace, and we have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit who has guided us into all manner of spiritual blessings. That is the base of which we approach God in prayer.
- Prayer for the specifics of the situation we find ourselves in.
- In humble thanksgiving for past mercies and confident expectation of God answering our prayers; and in gratitude of the perfect will of God who works all things for good, including this situation. The elements of praise and rejoicing, as well as thanksgiving are often mixed together. “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing” (Ps. 17:22).
A good example, in retrospect, of good coming out of suffering is the case of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. When Zacharias was told by the angel Gabriel that he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a baby, he said “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years” (Luke 1:18). Whereupon, the angel told him “You will be mute and not be able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time” (Luke 1:20). When Elizabeth gave birth nine months later, God gave Zacharias back his speech at the naming of the baby. His first words were in praise to God. He was now fully repentant of his doubts and his reasoning that he and his wife were not capable of bringing a child into the world. He was ashamed of his lack of faith and had a clearer understanding of his heart. Moreover, he had been humbled and was nearer to his God. In Zacharias’ case he had to wait for nine months for God to end his suffering. In the afflictions that you and I endure we can confidently trust he will answer our prayers, but the timing is in his hands.
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea-billows roll;
Whatever my lot,Thou hast taught me to say:
‘It is well, it is well with my soul’
(Horatio Spafford)
Grace and peace,
Rob Humphreys
