Beloved, Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice… that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding great joy (I Pet. 4:12-13).
Be courageous
Jesus informs us that we will have problems in the world. None of us can expect to be immune from pain and suffering (John 16:33). If we expect to glide through life free of problems then we are mistaken. There will be suffering and problems throughout this mortal life. Anyone who doesn’t want to bear the cross should not expect to wear the crown. Sometimes the problems will be enormous and sometimes they’ll be small, but all are significant in God’s character-building for us. Don’t feel neglected or frustrated when these trials come upon us. God is helping us to grow spiritually. He is preparing us for His everlasting Kingdom.
“Be not dismayed, God uses problems to draw us closer to Him. He is close to the broken-hearted; and saves those of a contrite spirit” (Psa. 34:18).
Knowing God through suffering
When everything is going smoothly, we may get too relaxed and cozy and not imitate Jesus or speak about him. In suffering we come to really know Jesus. The things we learn about God when we are in trouble cannot be learned any other time. Problems force us to look to God and depend on Him instead of ourselves. We realize how helpless and unworthy we are before Him, and then with humility in our heart and tears in our eyes, we fall prostrate before Him.
The feelings of Paul flash though our hearts. “We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves, but that was good, for then we put everything into the hand of God, who alone could save us” (II Cor. 1:9). Nothing happens to a child of God without God’s permission. Man’s evil deeds are to harm us but God intends to use it for good to strengthen our character. The sovereign Lord is in control.
Christlike character
If God is building a Christ-like character in us, and we become stubborn and outrageous, He might have to use a jackhammer. He will use whatever it takes.
In Romans 5:3-4, Paul reminds us that these troubles produce patience and patience produces character. Outward appearance is not as important as what happens in our heart. Over and over in the Bible, trials are compared to a metal refiner’s fire that burns away the impurities. According to I Peter 1:7, these trials come to make us pure. The purity of faith is worth more than gold. As a child of God the reflection of Jesus must always be seen in us. The silversmith knows that the silver is pure when he sees his reflection in it. Is the reflection of Jesus seen in our lives?
Our Heavenly Father wants us to be like Jesus so He takes us through similar experiences to Jesus. That includes loneliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection, and so on. Enjoy the hard times with Christ Jesus and surely we will enjoy the good times with him.
God’s plan for us
God told Jeremiah (Jer. 29:11) that He had plans to prosper him and not to harm him, plans to give him hope and a future. A similar prophecy was revealed to Joseph when he told his brethren that they intended to harm him, but God intended it for good (Gen. 50:20). Hezekiah knew that his life-threatening illness was for his own good (Isa. 38:17).
It is essential that we stay focused on God’s plan, not our pain or trouble. Jesus endured that pain on the cross because he knew the joy he would have afterwards. We cannot look on the world or else we’ll be distressed; but if we look on Jesus, we’ll find rest for our weary soul. A great secret of endurance is to remember that pain, however hard it may be, is temporary but the reward is eternal. God loves us and wants us to be in His kingdom.
Rejoice and give thanks
Is this possible? Can we rejoice and give thanks always? God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for evil, sin or suffering. He wants us to thank Him because we know He will use our problems to fulfill His purposes. No matter what’s happening, we are to rejoice in God’s love, care, wisdom, power and faithfulness. We have to be patient and wait upon the Lord for He will not forsake us nor leave us on our own. The process of character building will go on until endurance is fully developed and we find that we have become mature children of God (Jam. 1:3-4).
Depend upon the Lord our God
Character development always involves a choice and among the circumstances that provide such opportunity are suffering and pain. Some of our brethren and sisters who suffer, whatever the circumstance may be, are a great encouragement to us. They are ever so courageous and joyful. It’s always a pleasure to visit them. God teaches us real joy in the midst of sorrow, when we turn to Him. Happiness depends on external circumstances, but joy is based on your relationship to God. There are many times when things don’t go the way we planned; instead there is chaos, confusion, pain and suffering. God is using these to develop trust in Him and help us to build a good character.
Do we worry over and become afraid of our adverse situations?
Remember, God never fails to keep His promises. He will see us through. How can we claim to be patient and enduring when we have never suffered in any way whatsoever?
Suffering and pain keep us dependent on God. Maybe we already observed that roots grow stronger when wind blows against a tree, so every time we stand up to our trials and suffering we become more like Jesus. We are not to give up. Grow up in the Lord. Are we enduring our problems in life as they help mold and build our character?
Paul did and so can we (II Cor. 4:17).
Love (of God) will banish pain and anguish
Comfort wounded hearts that languish;
Pour on them its golden wealth,
Bless them with eternal health.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One