Multiplied Trials

Q: For the past 5 years my Husband & I have been overwhelmed with trials. We are trying to stay strong & praise God for Making us stronger Thru Trials. The weak side of me says are we being punished for something? How does one know. What do we do but pray, pray, pray read Job and Psalms?

A:  First of all, I apologize for taking a couple of weeks to reply to you. Our email load is heavier than we can keep up with right now. We are praying and looking for ways to make it better.

As I am sure you know, I cannot bring any instant solutions. However, let me make a few suggestions. I hope some of them will help.

1. Though it will be difficult, work hard to keep your focus on Christ. Peter walked on water as long as he kept looking at Jesus. But when he got his eyes on the storm and the waves, he began to sink. We must look to Jesus in times that try our souls (Hebrews 12:2).

2. Practice having a thankful heart even in the midst of trials. Thank God for the smallest of blessings and keep thanking Him. Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

3. Pour out your soul to God. By this, I mean that you do not hold back and try to speak formally to Him. Often people will pour out their heart to a friend but still feel that they need to speak in formal, stiff language with God. This is not true. We can tell God everything. He is gracious even when we say stupid things. That is why the Spirit of God makes intercession and helps us with our groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26-27) and Jesus Christ makes intercession for us in heaven (Romans 8:34). 

4. You mentioned this one already. But you need to spend time in God's word and especially the Psalms. One special blessing of trials is that the Psalms mean much more to you and open up to you at this time. 

5. Look for God's purpose in the trials. The trouble is, we often look for the reasons by either looking externally in things around us or by thinking that we must be receiving punishment though we do not know what for. God does chasten His children, but I think they usually know it when they are being chastened (just as a child knows when he is being spanked). But most often, I think the trial is given to do a work in our own lives and hearts. It may be to teach us some important lesson or lessons. It may be to prepare us for greater service. It may be just to increase our faith. 1Peter 1:6-7 states, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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." But whether you can see what God is doing or not, rest assured that He has a purpose in it all.

I will stop for now. May the Lord bless you and lead you in the right path as you experience these testings of your faith. 

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan