Hiding Behind the Storm Door

What is your trial?  Loneliness?  Rejection?  Perhaps you are facing a financial crisis or health problems that no one has answers for.  Maybe you’ve lost a spouse or a child or possibly you’re going through the betrayal of a friendship brought on by misunderstandings or false conjecture. You might be overwhelmed with the struggles of a wayward child or the abuse of an unloving husband.  Trials come in all forms and yet they all hurt the same way.

Unless I choose to think biblically about my sufferings, I will fight against these trials in frustration and dishonor my Lord and His purpose in my life.  Sometimes our frustration in sufferings is nothing more than anger.  Perhaps we think that we deserve better. 

The only way for me to learn patience is to count my trial as a joy in the moment.  It is often hard to see the trials and battles we go through in our lives as a positive thing. 

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.”

This kind of thinking makes no sense to the natural man.  In fact, it can sound like reason for admission to the Looney bin.  Count it all joy when you are facing trouble? Seriously?  Trials can do positive things in our lives….if we let them.  Our biggest problem when the storms of life come, is that we are too often unwilling to hide behind our Heavenly Storm Door and trust the Saviour of our soul to protect us and see us through this present danger.  Too many times we take things into our own hands and try to fix it ourselves, instead of seeing our problem the way God does.  Our God means us no harm.  Everything He does…is for our good.  Do you believe that?

What is the positive side of trials and suffering?

1.  We can learn patience in our surrender.  I Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while…make you perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you.”  The sooner we surrender to God’s purpose and plan for this trial, the sooner we reach the place of maturity and patience.

2.  Realize that your trial did not take God by surprise.  In fact…He allowed it!  Job 23:10 “But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold.”

Job 23:14 “For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me, and many such things are with him.”

It is only in the fire that gold is developed.  Do you trust Him enough to believe He knows what He is doing?

3.  Be comforted in knowing that the Lord suffered too!  I Peter 4:13 “But rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Remember that it was necessary for our Lord to suffer.  Without it, we would have no salvation!  It was God’s plan that He suffer and it is the same for us as well.  Have you ever told the Lord that you are willing to suffer for His sake?  This is really what cross bearing is all about. 

Many times our “suffering” is self-induced.  We are suffering because of sin, wrong choices and our own self will.  Be willing to learn from them rather than resenting them.

4.  Be quick to remember that in this life…we will face trials and sufferings.  Don’t let them surprise you!

I Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you….”  But rejoice!

5.  God has a purpose in our suffering.  No matter what Satan thinks…God always has a purpose in our trials!

I Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

Our Lord wants to make us and mold us and improve us through our trials.  How will your trial find you in the end?

6.  Our trials are a good revealing time for us.  Our endurance and faith in trials tell a lot about us.  Proverbs 24:10 “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”  Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

7.  Don’t be ashamed of your suffering time.  Stay away from pity parties.  Satan will use your pity party to cause you to withdraw from others and ruin your witness for Christ.  Don’t let your pride get in the way and miss the “blessing” God has for you through your trip through suffering.

Romans 5:3-5 “…but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts…”

8.  Your trial can be the perfect opportunity to see the power of God at work in your life!  Don’t let your trial pull you out of God’s service because of discouragement.  Don’t let the trial pull you away from God’s people because of disappointment.  Let the trial prove what you are in Christ.  Let your trial prove what Christ in you can do.

Job 5:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.”

Our trials are not meant to be disasters for God!  The joy of knowing God as he always had, carried Job through the trials when nothing and no one else could!

Remember…the only way to reach the “gold” is through the doorway of trials and suffering.  Learn to see the positive side and walk through it by faith….