Overcoming Trials
As a believer, a follower of Christ, and an inhabitant of the earth, it’s inevitable that at some point you will encounter a trial. A #trial is an opposition of any kind. It’s a difficulty or abnormality in the course that you’re taking in your life. It could be the result of another person’s actions or the result of unseen forces that are against you.
If you’ve spent any time studying the word of God then you know that Jesus Christ defeated Satan for us on the cross. Jesus took down sin and death with him on that cross and he gave us his right standing instead. Knowing this, how do I, as a #believer, respond when I’m faced with trials? Do I just give in to the opposing wind or the negativity that’s trying to take me out? No. I don’t believe so. I have some suggestions on what you can do when faced with trials.
1. Count it all joy.
James says, "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." - James 1:2-4 KJV
James advises us to get happy when we see trials and challenges. The testing of your faith brings you to patience and when you allow patience to take its full course, it’s going to take you to a place of maturity and perfection.
2. God’s purpose is for the glory of God and for the works of God to be revealed
I must remind myself that the purpose of God is for his #glory to be revealed in that situation. I know this to be true because of what Paul writes in 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." - Romans 8:18 KJV According to this scripture, when you assess what you’re going through right now, Paul says it’s not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in you.
3. Don’t consult with the natural world
The first thing you must do is calm down and don’t consult the natural world. Don’t look at what the physical world is telling you; it’s a fallen creation. Therefore, it’s always going to tell you no. “No, you can never have that.” “No, you’ll never be healed.” Don’t take your truth from the negative things that the natural world is showing you.
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4. Turn to the Lord
"Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." - 2 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV When you turn to the Lord the veil that hinders you from seeing his glory is removed. When facing a trial, you want to turn your attention to Jesus. Read what Hebrews 12:1-2 AMPC tells us to do:
“Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
When I read this passage I receive practical instruction on what to do in a trial. I must look away from the distractions by looking unto #Jesus. What are the distractions? It’s sickness, lack, unemployment, stress, etc. I make a decision to focus on Jesus and not the distractions.
5. He will lead your inner man to a place called “done”
As you turn to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will lead you to a place called done. When you find that place called done that’s when you are ruling and reigning. As long as you don’t have peace, trust, assurance, you’re not yet reigning. Seeing the kingdom is going from “he will do it” to “he did it.” A position of hope says I believe God will do it. But a position of faith says I believe God already did it. How does this happen? God has to become more real to me than everything that my physical senses tell me. The writer of Hebrews says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
6. Believe when you pray
A lot of believers spend a lot of time in prayer asking God for things. Of all the things we ask of him, how many of those things are we actively #believing for? Jesus tells us to have the faith of God and to believe and not doubt. "So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." - Mark 11:22-23 NKJV
7. Signs will follow
When you live in the reality of everything written above, signs will most certainly follow you. Paul was one such believer who found that place called “done,” in Christ. And we know the Lord used him to work many miracles. "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul," - Acts 19:11 NKJV
In summary, as a believer, you can count it all joy when you fall into various trials because you are assured that God is with you. You will rise higher as you recognize that the Lord is truly in you. As you spend time with the Lord, as you remain in his presence, God becomes more real to you than anything that’s trying to come against you.