Subscription Lists

If we are being led by the Holy Spirit, we have no choice of the trials we go through, or whether to go through them. Not that we do not have choices within the trial, - we do, but the trial itself is crafted and given to you so that you may profit thereby. Not to destroy you, but to grow you.They are providenced by a wise and loving Creator God. They are adapted by Him individually, just for you, to your personal bent, the root of who you are in His sight, and to the life He has chosen for you. They may be similar to other's trials, someone you know, or have known. But yours is a "one of a kind", because you are a one of kind. No one past, present, or future has been, is, or ever will be exactly like you.

The types and nature of trials are as infinite as the God who crafted them.That means that the field is wide open. Someone else's trial is always at least a little different. This gives us the opportunity to exhibit sympathy, concern, and loving encouragement to someone outside of yourself. This keeps you from the feeling that know one has it a bad as you do, and serves to take away the preoccupation that often happens when we are experiencing our trial.

Within the trials we all go through, there are many choices to be made. God must know how we will respond to many things in order to qualify us for a greater reward, not to destroy us. He must know - and cause us to know - what is in our hearts (2 Chronicles 32:30-31).

This involves our basic understanding of where the trial really comes from. Regardless of the nature of the trial, it is given to us by a loving Savior and God. At times it is very difficult to see through our pain and hurt and see Christ. He is the One who said, "In the world you will have trials, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." That which you might be tempted to believe about it often is not true. However, sometimes Christ sees something in your life that should not be there. He may decide tha the only way to get your attention about it is to cause you some kind of suffering. It would be wise to do a thorough self examination - something perhaps even deeper than what we are commanded to do prior to taking communion.

Once you have done this as God leads you, Satan will attempt to make you feel even more guilty about it (for having the trial to begin with), or that it is hopeless Satan will attempt to convince you that the reason you are going through what you are going through is because you are a hopeless sinner, that desreves to suffer the way you are. He will attempt to convince you that God is vindictive, vengeful, and unfair. After all God knows you are a "good person", and that you do not deserve what you are evperiencing (Genesis 3:1-4).

Your hope is in the last five words of Christ's statment: "...I have overcome the world!"

Our trials come from elements in this world. Jesus has conquered your trial by having overcome this world for you. He is really saying that we are to look to Him, and to trust Him, for the correct attitude, and for ending of the trial. It is all His doing. The deliverance and outcome are in His hands. Within this is the responsibility to deal with the trial in wisdom. James admonishes that you should come to God for the wisdom about how to trust Him, and for wisdom (James 1:5). You need wisom - God's wisdom - especially in times of stress and confustion about how to deal with all the events in your life..

Your trials and mine will not last forever. We will last forever. Our trials will not.

They are only for a season. Lets us be patient, obedient, and praising Him for His wisdom in designing trials to fit each of us. They will have a great reward.

"Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer". - Romans 12:10-12 (NET)

"God's Words For US" from Cecelia Lester

Renew a Right Spirit