Monday, August 14, 2023

           We all know that trials are real.  We often find ourselves amazed by how others handle difficult times.  The way others face hardships often serves as an example or encouragement to us when we face the same things.  The people we read about in the Bible faced adversity too. David did.  Moses did.  Peter did.  Tradition tells us that Peter died as a martyr for his faith in Jesus and commitment to the gospel.  We cannot say for certain how he specifically struggled or exactly what kinds of battles he faced in his life as an apostle each day but we can be fairly certain that he knew some long and difficult days.  Just consider what God had called him to be and to do.  In his own words, he offers us a bit of encouragement when we face trials too.  Peter wrote, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (I Peter 1:6-7).  With only two verses, Peter gives us some encouragement.  We find five truths that can help us to navigate our way through life’s battles.
            First, trials are real.  Be wary of those who minimize or dismiss the reality of trials for Christians.  Trials do happen.  And they can often be intense and long-lasting.  Even Jesus spoke about the reality of trials.  Our Lord said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Jesus plainly said “you will have trouble.”  We often suffer for our faith.  We often suffer because of our faith.  At times, there is no discernible reason for why we are facing a certain trial.  No one is immune to trials.  There are no magic medicines or words to insulate or immunize ourselves against them.  Peter wrote about “grief” and “all kinds of trials.”  Jesus Himself suffered the agony of the cross for no guilt of His own.   
            Second, trials can be a time for self-examination.  We might want to look at where we are in life and faith and how we arrived there.  Hardships can often lead us to ask some very important questions that we often dodge or deflect.  We often have to take a serious look in the mirror to see who we are.  Occasionally, we find ourselves listening for God’s voice more intently and with greater interest.  Trials can often be God’s way of getting our attention to show us some truths that we may have missed or simply chosen not to consider.  One way to look at your life and faith is reading the Psalms.  This amazing book of poetry shows us what life is like at almost every station in life—including those times where we are anxious, weary, grieving and hurting. 
            Third, trials can build our faith.  Construction is hard work.  It requires heavy materials and machines.  I have the opportunity to see construction take place every day just a matter of feet from my office.  Slowly, a building takes shape as it rises from the ground to reach the sky.  Faith-building can often be similar to construction.  We have to do some heavy lifting like prayer, reading the Bible, worshiping, tithing, serving and patiently seeking the Lord.  But, in time, we see a new life of faith emerging from a life of sin as God’s grace reshapes and remakes us into something new for His glory and our good.  While few people welcome or openly embrace the arrival of a trial, we can often look back as we emerge from a battle to see what God did and where God was at work to change us and to glorify Himself in the process.  Trials can bring us into the Lord’s presence rather quickly as we realize that we are weak or even powerless in the face of them.  We turn to the One who is all-sufficient and all-powerful.  And God keeps His word to us.
            Fourth, trials can prove how genuine our faith is.  Jesus spoke about two builders at the end of His Sermon on the Mount.  One builder chose sand as his foundation.  And when a storm came, the house crashed down.  A second builder chose a rock foundation.  His choice was right.  When a storm approached this house, it remained standing.  The rain, winds and flood were powerless to harm this house.  Jesus likened that building lesson to faith.  Trials often reveal the kind of faith-foundation that we have.  We can discover if we are building our lives on the things that matter or much cheaper substitutes.  One lesson is simple to see—if we build our lives on the things of this world, then this world can easily destroy us.  But if we build on Christ and His ways, the world cannot level us or defeat us.  Our foundation will hold.
            And fifth, continue to live faithfully and boldly in the face of trials.  The enemy would love to sideline you or to marginalize you when battles come.  Fight against the temptation to drop out of the fight or to leave the race.  Paul, in his second letter to Timothy reminds us to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).  Your example of faith when going through a trial could be life-changing to someone else who watches how you live and conduct yourself.  Never underestimate where God can use you or the powerful witness that you offer for Him. 
            Remember you can worship with us any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.  Make plans to join us for one more time as we gather for prayer and praise this Wednesday at 6:30pm.  Have a great Monday!