Responding To The Trials Of Life: Part 1

Recently I had one problem after another. They just piled up. There was an issue with two vehicles, the air conditioning went out in the house in the middle of hot weather, and the dog had to be taken to the vet. This all happened within a two week period. These were all normal trials of life, but some have had things a lot worse. I still had power to turn on fans to help stay cool. I thought of those who have lost power in hot weather due to severe storms. I was mindful of a relative in ICU. What I went through was nothing compared to what others have experienced.

There were several little blessings in the midst of the pile of problems. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances.”  This is hard to do, but one way to be thankful is to look for the blessings, what you still have left, and how God is providing your needs.

Our normal trials of life are nothing compared to the religious persecution that many Christians experience. 2 Corinthians 4:8 gives a response to it: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” Then in 4:17 it is written, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”

The Apostle Paul had what he described as a “thorn in the flesh” This was some sort of physical ailment that Paul asked God to take from him, but God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). So, Christians can always call upon God’s sustaining grace, no matter how severe the trials of life may be.

It must also be recognized that there is a spiritual battle, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). To combat this one must take on the full armor of God, of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, prayer, and perseverance (Ephesians 6:13-18).

There is, however, a different response to all of what has been mentioned so far, which is not talked about among Christians. In the middle of adversity and the trials of life, we may need to cry out in lament to God and ask, “How long God?” How long until this circumstance is resolved? How long until I am healed of this sickness? How long God will whatever situation I am going through last? God knows our pain. He knows our needs. So, let’s be honest with him about how we truly feel about the realities of life. God is not offended when we ask why or think that he has forsaken us. Let us not put on religious masks when we know our life is in the pits. There are hidden hurts that need to be unmasked.

At the same time that we are being thankful, looking for the blessings, and being strong in the Lord, we can tell God how we truly feel. Don’t hold anything back. Pour your physical hurts, or emotional distress out to him. Scripture teaches both, as we will see in part two of this article.