Regarding the trails, what is his goal for us through them?
Hurting today? Do you need some prayer? Got some trials? Have you suffered loss or been abandoned by someone you really trusted? (God, by your Spirit I pray that you will please touch, comfort and bless this reader now).
People feeling hopeless want to find hope today, and I want them to in you. Many feel like they have landed in a deep black hole, but they long to climb out of it. I feel for Christian people dealing with evil opposition or when they are going through a trial! What's been affecting those around me actually affects my me -- emotionally it does, and sometime I feel like fighting back for them. Ever felt like that? Are you in a pressurized situation. Everyone goes through hardships. In this world you and I, believer, will have tribulation said our Lord. Have you been suffering some? So sorry 'bout that!
Jesus had to suffer and die for us? Why? To satisfy the righteous demands of God the Father and to reconcile us to his Father. It didn't feel good. That was His ultimate purpose. The death of Christ at Calvary accomplished redemption, the eternal plan of salvation, and the sacrifice of God the Father's Son made it complete -- bringing forth the infinite and greatest good for us. Because Christ suffered, He understands our suffering and we are never alone or beyond his reach.
I want them to conquer (not in some fleshly, carnal or worldly way), to overcome, to win in every situation for God's glory. I want them through and done with their trail and hurting. God hurts with them and I feel hurt when I am with them too.. yeah, when I see them hurting or harassed. John Stott said, "Our God is a suffering God." Jesus was a man of sorrows or suffering cuz he loved and he loves -- he enters into our suffering.
The Bible says, "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together." 1 Corinthians 12:26
Going through a trial or a temptation is a confirmation that you are on the right track as a Christian. If you were to voice this, "You know, as a born again Christian I can’t remember the last time I was tempted," I would ask you, "Man, what is wrong with you?" The devil sets his sights on those who are a threat to the kingdom of God. You shouldn’t be surprised or shocked if you are tempted or tested.
"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad--for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world."
Let's review the basic stuff of trails. Believers have them (more than they want really) and they work for them as the Christian looks to the Lord to meet their needs. Lost unregenerate people have troubles that literally work against them.
Christians are a lot like teabags in a sense; you don’t know what they’re made of until you put them into hot water. And they indeed are in hot water sometimes, but God is glorified through them. Maybe you’re in hot water today. Maybe you’re going through what we might describe as a fiery trial. Ouch! The good news is you are not the first person to go through it, nor will you be the last and you there are not alone in your trial.
One of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is the fact that becoming a disciple of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations. Why would a good and loving God allow us to go through such things as the death of a child, disease and injury to ourselves and our loved ones, financial hardships, worry and fear? Surely, if He loved us, He would take all these things away from us. After all, doesn’t loving us mean He wants our lives to be easy and comfortable? Well, no, it doesn’t. The Bible clearly teaches that God loves those who are His children, and He “works all things together for good” for us (Romans 8:28). So that must mean that the trials and tribulations He allows in our lives are part of the working together of all things for good. Therefore, for the believer, all trials and tribulations must have a divine purpose.
As in all things, God’s ultimate purpose for us is to grow more and more into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). This is the goal of the Christian, and everything in life, including the trials and tribulations, is designed to enable us to reach that goal.
It is part of the process of sanctification, being set apart for God’s purposes and fitted to live for His glory. The way trials accomplish this is explained in 1 Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." The true believer’s faith will be made sure by the trials we experience so that we can rest in the knowledge that it is real and will last forever.
Trials develop godly character, and that enables us to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). Jesus Christ set the perfect example. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). These verses reveal aspects of His divine purpose for both Jesus Christ’s trials and tribulations and ours. Persevering proves our faith. "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
However, we must be careful never to make excuses for our "trials and tribulations" if they are a result of our own wrongdoing. "By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler" (1 Peter 4:15). God will forgive our sins because the eternal punishment for them has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. However, we still have to suffer the natural consequences in this life for our sins and bad choices. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good.
Trials and tribulations come with both a purpose and a reward. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:2-4,12).
Through all of life’s trials and tribulations, we have the victory in Christ. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." Although we are in a spiritual battle, Satan has no authority over the believer in Christ. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Holy Spirit to enable us, and the privilege of coming to Him anywhere, at any time, to pray about anything. Thanks #GotQuestions
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