Joy in Trials

Sorry (not sorry), long post.

When it rains, it pours.

Have you ever heard that phrase, or said it yourself in regards to ‘one thing after another’ happening in life? (I mean frustrating or annoying things, not high points, ha.)

It can feel like everyone else’s lives are fantastic: blue skies, sunshine, picnics in the park…meanwhile I have a personal rain cloud assigned to me, following me from place to place.

Sometimes things in life pile up.

Sometimes we get hit left and right with problems, troubles, issues. It can be very overwhelming.

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”

I recently rebuked myself and said “Hey- either God is your strength, or He’s not. You are either going to trust Him, or you’re not. It’s not trusting Him to grumble. It’s not making Him your strength to list your issues so everyone can throw you a pity party. Stop it.”

I needed that. Refocus. God is my strength. I can do all things in Christ. Even get through a string of tough events in life.

This life is going to be full of turbulence.

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.”

Well, look at that. Trials aren’t something strange that happens. Not even the fiery ones. And even though we don’t like it, and even though they can be so, so hard, we truly can still make it through with joy when Christ is our focus.

1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

Peter tells us that we should rejoice (be full of cheer, calmly happy) when we experience trials. Why? Because when the glory of God is revealed (which is what happens when we submit to His will in our lives) we will have exceeding joy!

That sounds like a shift in focus to me.

Instead of wondering why I’m going through all these things, or what I’ve done to ‘deserve all this’, I can and should focus on how I can glorify God through the trial.

Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

God wants to reveal His glory in us. His presence brings so much peace and comfort. We can encourage so many other believers when we walk through the trials of this life with faith and joy fully intact.

Philippians 1:12-14
(12) “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
(13) So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
(14) And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Paul knew his trials had a purpose. They helped spread the gospel. His being imprisoned and handling it with grace and joy helped other believers to become bold to speak!!

God is refining us. He wants us to become more like Christ. And one of the ways He does this is through trials. He wants His glory to be revealed in the lives of those who say they believe in and follow Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory., even as by the Spirit of God.”

As we allow the Spirit of God to work in our lives, reminding us to focus on God and His strength, His glory is revealed a little more not only to us, but IN us. It is a process: from glory to glory.

Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

There’s that process again. In the ages to come doesn’t sound like it happens in a day. It will take a long time for us to ‘get’ the riches of God’s grace. We have to open our eyes to see it day by day.

And when we see God’s hand in everything, we are much less likely to grumble, and complain, and despair. Even though life can be really, REALLY hard.

1 Peter 1:5-7
(5) “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(6) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
(7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

The word trial means test, but also trustworthiness. How much do you trust your faith in trials? Is it something you can depend on? Have you worked to strengthen it so it is trustworthy?

Again we see the idea that we can rejoice through our trials because we have salvation! We should greatly rejoice at all times because that fact is never changing. Jesus made a way for us!!

1 Peter 1:8-9
[8] “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
(9) receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

When is the last time I rejoiced with exceeding joy because I have Jesus? When was the last time I preached the gospel to myself when going through a trial? Have I reminded myself that living (and reacting) for God’s glory is an essential part of growing my faith?

I am still learning. I am growing. My race is not over. By the grace of God I will make Him the focus at all times. I trust that He has a good purpose for all things.

Rejoicing in trials does get easier with practice. It’s training myself to change perspectives when I get down. I don’t want to say ‘bring it on’, but I can say ‘by God’s grace I will live a life that reveals His glory.’