Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Ps. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
I have had the opportunity quite a few times this last week to talk about Grant's story with people coming through our home show booth. Some of these people are old friends who hadn't heard about his event, others we have just met and we started talking about kids and one thing led to another.
Grant's event has produced many different things in me personally, and in others as well. As I have shared in these postings, it has better prepared me for today's economy and to really trust God much more.
But why trials, afflictions and testings? Why does God allow us to go through these kind of times? When we are saved He could make it so that our salvation is the end of our suffering on earth and we would begin to receive the rewards of following Him right away. To some Christians that may happen, but I don't think it is the case most often. So why would anyone ever want trials? Previously I never wanted trials, but God is changing my thinking.
Trials produce so many good things in our lives, that without them we are but a small portion of the Christian we would be, in so many areas, if God chose to allow us to go on the easier road. Much of the following reflections are from Thomas Watson's book, The Godly Man's Picture, though not in his exact language.
When God chooses to bring trials into our lives, we can know that He cares for us. If we have no trials, we should be looking closely at why He is not bringing them. Is He allowing us to go on our own path w/o any correction? If so, then are you really His child, if He disciplines the ones He loves? Trials bring assurance of His love for us.
I personally have found that trials produce much more fervent prayers. When everything is going good I, most often, am not driven to my knees to cry out to God for His help. I work hard and try to be a nice guy and then take the credit for it. But when I am being tested, I quickly see that this has nothing to do with me, and it is God who is doing the work. Whether the work is stopping and starting Grant's heart, or bringing in business at PG, it is still all of God's doing, not mine. God is glorified when we are begging Him to deliver us, not from the testing as much as from our lack of seeing our utter need of Him in every situation. When life if "good", I totally miss that. Trials give us a longing to pray.
When life if "good" it has been easy for me to get caught up in the affairs of this world and to try to find all of my happiness, success and value in what I am doing. But when trials come it makes me look at everything this world has to offer and evaluate just what I am accomplishing in the grind. In the end there is nothing left that compares to the life to come, but if life here is easy I would totally miss the fact that Heaven is my home and would not be focused on the Prize. Watson said, and I paraphrase, "If there are apples and flowers along the way, our journey is slowed because of the enjoyment of those things. But if a child is afraid along the path, then the trip is much faster because they can't wait to get home". How true this is. When we have everything we need here on earth, why would we want to leave? But when life is hard here on earth, why would we want to stay? Trials give us a longing for Heaven.
Since Jesus is the Great Physician and grace is His medicine, would we ever know the richness of grace and the curing power of that grace if we were never "sick". Our trials drive us to our knees begging for His grace and when those trials are severe He then lavishes His mercy and grace on us the most. With small trials come small graces, with large trials graces flows like a river over us, to heal us. Trials bring great grace.
Trials enable us to endure things which are difficult, so down the road, when we face another difficult situation, we have been tested and we can look back and say, "God brought me through this trial last time and He will be faithful to do it again". Once we have gone through one difficult situation, we are then better prepared for the next one. Trials produce patience.
When the road is rough and the weather is nasty, we can look down the road to see a glorious Kingdom, we can have hope that all of this craziness of life is but a breath and we will soon be with our Lord, the Sweet Shepherd, reigning with Him. People travel over many rough and windy roads to get to some remote place to smell the air, take a picture, put their feet in the water or sand, and then turn right back around to go home again to the grind. Well this trip on earth is one of rough and windy roads, but when we reach what is truly paradise, we won't ever have to leave again. Trials bring a glorious ending and a glorious reward.
Lord, please bring us trials that we may trust in Your care. You give us exactly what we need for our completion and You also give us the grace to endure the trial. You have given us faith to trust, grace to encourage our hearts, patience to endure, Your Word to light our path, and prayer to comfort. May we rejoice in our trial, even though they are hard, they bring about the fruit of righteousness and bring us closer to You, which is where we want to be.
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