We all go through tests and trials. Some of us are dealing with incredibly difficult situations at this very moment. We all eventually find ourselves being tested by life’s circumstances. In addition to that, if we are sincerely pursuing God and trying our best to live a godly life, we can also expect to experience the fire and testing of persecution for living out our faith.
Some of us at this moment are going through testing and trials of physical illness, loss of a job, betrayal of a friend, or a broken relationship. Some have been cheated, slandered, and even persecuted for their belief in God.
What does the Bible say about how we should view these things? What is the proper response to testing and trials? To persecution? To life’s struggles in general?
God tells us in James that there is a specific perspective that we should have when going through trials of any kind.
James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Can you honestly say that you count it all joy when various tests and trials come? It’s hard! At least it’s hard for me. Those tests and trials seem to fall into your lap at the most inconvenient times, don’t they? They don’t usually come one at a time, either, but somehow they have children that are worse than they are. It is not unusual to be going through multiple levels of testing at the same time.
It is hard for us to see tests and trials as a benefit, yet it is the tension and struggle of testing and trials that perfects our faith. This is the reason we should count it all joy. The fruit of the Holy Spirit does its best work within us when we are being tested. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), but our faith is only perfected when it is tested and tried.
1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
The fire is coming to all, and we cannot stop it. So we shouldn’t be surprised. The rains fall on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:44-45).
Verse 13 speaks about sharing in Christ’s sufferings, but I think most of us misunderstand what that means. When we think about sharing in Christ’s sufferings, we tend to only think about the persecution we experience for living out our faith. But we need to realize that each one of us is a part of His body. He feels what we feel. He hurts when we hurt. When we are being tested, He is being tested. It is Christ’s Spirit that dwells in the heart of every believer. When we suffer in any way, He feels our suffering as well.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The three Hebrew children in Daniel 3 never even acknowledged that the fire was a threat, though it was seven times hotter than normal. They never prayed to be delivered from the fire; they just maintained the proper perspective. Because of their perspective, they walked through the fire and came out not being burned or even smelling like smoke.
Faith is a perspective. It is a very narrow way of thinking, believing, behaving, and speaking. Faith is a narrow perspective. One that focuses on God and what he is saying and doing in the circumstances we are going through. A perspective that keeps us from focusing on the pain, the loss, the torment, and all the other negative thoughts and emotions that testing and trials can stir up.
The fire is coming, my friend. Instead of praying against the inevitable, instead, consider praying for wisdom, strength, discernment, and a grace to walk through the fire and come out the other side not even smelling like smoke. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and know that He is experiencing the suffering with you. This is what produces amazing testimonies that glorify God.
Avoiding the fiery trials only stunts our spiritual growth and prevents the perfecting of our faith. Fire exposes our level of faith, burning off the impurities and bringing it to a higher place, perfecting it, refining it, making it stronger. It is through the fire that Jesus shows Himself strong on our behalf.
When the enemy threatens with fire, he unwittingly becomes the catalyst for our sanctification, our transformation.
Learn to embrace the fire because God may even be stoking the flames, knowing that this will make you stronger and more complete.
The path to the Promised Land is always through the wilderness of testing. It is the testing that prepares us to properly steward the amazing promises of God. There will always be provision, protection, and direction in the wilderness. There will always be an assurance of God’s presence in the wilderness. We can learn much from Israel’s forty-year journey in the wilderness. Mostly what NOT to do. Like complaining, being bitter, being disobedient, and being self-willed. Israel didn’t have the right perspective, so it took them 40 years to make a trip that should have taken two weeks. Let’s learn from their mistakes. That’s why it is recorded in the book.
When we get squeezed by life’s trials, whatever is in our hearts in abundance will come out.
What comes out when life squeezes you? What comes out of your mouth when someone hurts or offends you? What comes out when you receive a bad report from the doctor? What comes out of you when someone cuts you off in traffic? I know…OUCH! Does anger, resentment, fear, harsh language, or worry come out? Or does Christ get squeezed out? It doesn’t matter how the squeezing comes or who does the squeezing. What comes out of you is a choice. You have Christ inside you. When people see your faith in Christ pouring forth from your life like a river, especially when they know you are being tested and your back is against the wall, it gives God glory. People take notice. It plants life-giving seed into their hearts and gives them hope. It also makes your trip through the wilderness shorter.
Faith makes a conscious decision on how to respond to adversity. It’s our choice. But if we are not being filled with the truth of God’s word on a daily basis, faith doesn’t come easily. The world, the news, social media, television, politics, and the like, will condition us to respond with everything but faith.
There is a great mystery that we see in the book of Colossians that helps put this into a faith perspective.
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The word “glory” here literally means any revealed attribute about God and His nature. When we get squeezed, Christ should come out, and the glory of God should be revealed.
God placed Christ’s Spirit in every believer with the hope of making Himself seen and known to a lost and dying world. You are the light of the world, and that light can shine the brightest in the greatest darkness.
So in the midst of your hardest trials, your greatest tests, your tightest squeezes, and in your journey through the darkest of circumstances, keep the proper perspective. Count it joy, understand that God is at work, and remember that He put Christ’s Spirit in YOU, with the hope of making Himself seen and known to the world around you.
JESUS IS COMING!
Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.
Truth Pressure Ministries 