I recently asked the Lord to help me be more Christ-like, and then failed to see the opportunities He gave me to grow. Maybe you have done the same or can relate. I was reading a devotional book and the author was making the point that trials and hard times are often looked at as unsolved problems. Sometimes we seem to get the idea that if we can just solve the problem we're facing all will once again be well and we'll have joy and peace. But this world is full of trials and problems--but is that a problem? How are we viewing trials?
Two viewpoints to running a marathon:
If I can survive and get to the end then I've accomplished the main goal.
Although this may be really tough for me--pushing me to the limit physically, it's actually strengthening my body and growing my endurance.
I'll admit I often take the, "Surviving is the main goal" instead of looking for ways to improve.
If a huge wave crashes over you which makes better sense: holding your breath in the hopes of outlasting it, or trying to swim? Swimming of course! But often we take the "hold your breath" method and come up gasping once it passes. This feeling often reveals underlying causes such as not trusting God fully--not spending enough time with Him to have a close relationship, focusing on the problem rather than the Solution, and forgetting that God often uses trails, tribulations, and testings to bring us closer to Him, show us where we need to grow, and magnify His own name through our lives. Trials are truly disguised treasures given to us by God. Do we disdain the tool that God is using to sharpen and mold us into the image of His Son? I hope not. James 1:2-4, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Divers means many or numerous; the Greek word used for temptations is also used for hard times--difficulties; and patience means the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. It amazes me that it often takes only one hard trial in a Christian's life for them to start doubting/questioning God. We place ourselves in a position of authority and wisdom--"authority" is thinking we have the right to question God for his actions and intentions and "wisdom" is thinking we might possibly know otherwise or better than He.
"With patient mind thy course of duty run:
God nothing does or suffers to be done
But thou wouldst do thyself, if thou could see
The end of all events as well as He."
~copied by Mary Lee (R. E. Lee's wife) into the keepsake album of J.E.B. Stuart
I'm not saying like some Calvinists, to literally praise God for a trail (e.g. praise the Lord for the flat tire this morning.) --believe me, I've heard that said, but rather, thank the Lord we were able to change the tire quickly and safely.. Paul was certainly no stranger to troubles and trials, yet he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Remember: Trails are tools in the hands of an all-Knowing, all Loving, and all-Sufficient Master. And trials aren't what brings God the glory--our response to them and reflection of our Father is what brings Him the glory.
I'll leave you with some quotes below that encouraged and prodded me to think.
“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.”—Eckhart Tolle
“I am never in control of what happens around me but I am always in control of what happens within me.”--author unknown.
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”—Chuck Swindoll
“God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
When you don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His heart”
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