Trials - the Age of Opportunity

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2019/January 2020~Volume 19, Number 5

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes."
Psalm 119:71

Trials. That simple word brings to your mind something real and personal that you have walked through in the past or are currently experiencing right now. Whether your trial is acknowledged by many who know you or remains private to you and the Lord, you know what that trial is, for "every heart knows its own bitterness" (Proverbs 14:10).

Your trial could be the betrayal of a once-loyal friend. The closure of a promising courtship. Financial trouble. Family problems. Health issues. Disappointment. Impossible circumstances. Whatever your trial is, you would have never chosen it; in fact, you would have avoided it if at all possible. But the simple fact is that God, in His infinite love and wisdom, designed or allowed this trial especially for you.
      
I can say that because I know. My mind goes back to a time when I walked through a trial in my life, one that was multi-faceted in its pain, completely out of my control, and the "why" behind it was beyond my comprehension. But one thing I learned in the midst of this "trying of my faith" was that the season of a trial is, in actuality, the age of unique and priceless opportunity. My prayer is that as I share from my journey, painful though it was, you will be encouraged in your own journey....
 
The Gift & The Giver...
So unexpectedly, God brought into my life a gift. I approached it cautiously, seeking to continually keep my eyes on the Giver of all good gifts. Was this truly of the Lord? In time, Scripture, answered prayer, and God's favor confirmed in a multitude of ways that this was indeed God's leading in my life.
     
I rejoiced in the Lord; I praised Him. My heart was overflowing with gratitude for what He had done. Past disappointments and closed doors now made sense in light of the gracious outpouring of God's goodness in my life. I purposed to glorify God in every way possible as I received this gift: I would put Christ first; I would not allow the excitement of the gift to distract me from my relationship with Christ, the Giver; pride and fear would not prevent me from sharing with others the testimony of how the Lord was working, to encourage them that indeed, God is faithful.
     
One Sunday I listened as the preacher spoke about trials. His sermon was from the book of Job. A certain quote stood out to me: "Job chose to cling to the Giver, even though all the gifts had been taken away." Sitting with Bible in hand, I thought of how easy it was to praise the Giver right now...His kindness was evident by the gift He had bestowed upon me! And I secretly hoped I wouldn't need to refer back to that sermon anytime soon....

The Lord Gave, the Lord has Taken Away...
The more I came to value the gift God had given, the more conscious I felt of the need to not allow it to become more important to me than Jesus Christ. Frequently I was on my knees, surrendering back to the Lord what He had given. "Jesus, I love You more. I want Your will more..." The words didn't always feel true to the depths of my heart, but I genuinely desired to put Him first in everything.
    
Suddenly, without warning, the gift was taken away. I was stunned and confused and hurt. Nothing made sense in my mind. I was sure that I had seen God's hand leading, and now, without warning or explanation, the very thing I had come to value was torn from my life. As if that were not enough, my best intentions had been misunderstood and misconstrued. I grieved beneath the crushing weight of my pain.
   
My gift was gone; my heart was broken. Yet amidst a myriad of unanswered questions and dashed dreams, I found myself once again on my knees. Many months before, I had promised the Lord that I would praise Him no matter what His ultimate purpose was regarding the gift. This commitment had been intended as an expression of my gratitude and desire to embrace His will, not my own. Now came the moment to walk it out by faith. "Lord, I praise You. I believe that You gave this gift, and You have allowed it to be taken away. Blessed be Your name."
 
The Age of Opportunity...
I did not understand why the gift that God had given was taken away, because I believed that He was providing it in answer to prayer and for the furtherance of His kingdom. In so many ways, it seemed like a "good gift" that only He could give! In fact, there were many things about this trial that I did not understand. It quickly became evident that with what measure I had embraced faith, love, humility, and hope, I now suffered in greater magnitude. Along with the natural disappointment of "hope deferred" was confusion, personal hurt, loss, rejection, and misunderstanding by others.
  
Yet the deeper my trial, the deeper my assurance that God saw me in my pain (Genesis 16:13) and just as He had entrusted to me a special gift, He now entrusted to me a special trial. Just as He had guided me to use the gift for His glory alone, He now desired me to use the trial for His glory alone. Would I continue to exhibit my gratitude of months before? I began to pray that people would see Jesus in my life, not because I had the perfect response to a trial, but because I was leaning hard on Him and He is faithful. The trial was overwhelming, yet somehow the challenge to use it fully for God's glory inspired me with great determination to walk worthy of the grace He was pouring out. I soon realized that the season of enduring a trial is actually a golden age of opportunity--an opportunity to take to heart all the truth I had learned over my lifetime. There are many things I know in my head; yet this testing of my faith was the opportunity to make it true in the depths of my heart. I am still learning and endeavoring to embrace these opportunities in a manner that honors the Lord, but I pray you are encouraged by what He has taught me along the way...
 
Opportunity to Trust God...
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 I've known that passage since before I could read. But when trials come, it is a new lesson all over again. Part of trusting God is not leaning on our own understanding. I quickly learned through this particular trial that the attempt to understand was a lost cause and does not aid me in trusting God. I had to surrender my intellect to the Lord and just rest in Him, even when nothing made sense from a human perspective.
 
Opportunity to be Comforted...
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death" Philippians 3:10 No matter how "spiritual" our response to a trial, the pain is still very real. Jesus Himself wept at Lazarus' tomb, and He sees every one of our tears as well. Those tears are precious to the Lord, for He stores them in a special bottle (Psalm 56:8). Did you know that there is a Scriptural blessing reserved for those who are sorrowful? "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4 We cannot experience God's comfort if we don't experience pain. There is unique fellowship in suffering with Christ at our side. Do not be afraid to grieve through your trial, for this will drive you to the God of all comfort. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
 
Opportunity to Comfort Others...
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Corinthians 1:4 How often do we ask God to expand our ministry?! Well, personal trials become the springboard for greater investment in the lives of others. Our trials are painful, but the comfort that we have received of the Lord is reciprocated as we pass along that encouragement to those in similar circumstances. I was amazed at how quickly God began bringing me opportunities to encourage others who were facing situations similar to mine. As I wrote notes, shared Scripture, and prayed for them, my heart was filled with gratitude that my trial was being used by the Lord!

Opportunity to Know God More...
"I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I pray Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy Word unto Thy servant." Psalm 119:75-76 One blessing that came through my trial was the kindness of my family and dear friends who loved and prayed for me. They truly were used by God to uphold me through that time. I realized that through their ministry, God was manifesting His love for me. These people were simply vessels, allowing God's love to flow through them. While this was perhaps the biggest test of my faith, I was in awe at the abundance of grace God poured out! I discovered for myself what others told me to be true: in a trial, we experience God's grace and kindness on a deeper level than ever before. I pray that this can be a testimony to the amazing faithfulness of the Lord.
 
Opportunity to Know Ourselves More...
"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10 Trials are a refining fire (1 Peter 1:7-9). They answer the question: who is the real you? My trial taught me about myself...I wasn't quite as "fully surrendered" as I thought I was. Perhaps my fulfillment and joy in serving had been rooted in something besides Christ alone. Trials reveal what is really in us. This is humbling, yet so important as we see how desperately we need the Lord and that apart from Him, we are nothing (John 15:5). But rather than growing discouraged by the test results, we can ask God to continue sanctifying us and conforming us to the image of His Son.
 
Opportunity for Faith Strengthening...
"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" 1 Peter 1:6-7 I have at times wrongly thought that the fruit of faithfulness was being spared certain trials. While this is true to an extent, I now see that such thinking can be a form of the false "prosperity Gospel" theology. The curse of sin leaves us in a fallen world with fallen people (ourselves included), and faithfulness never guarantees a pain-free life. If it did, Jesus would have never died, for He is the ultimate example of faithfulness, as well as suffering. Trials are tests. As Deuteronomy 8 explains, they humble and prove us, revealing what is in our hearts and whether we will continue to obey God, even when the blessings we long for are withheld. We ask God to "increase our faith," yet faith cannot be strengthened without being tested. Trials are a form of "growing pains." Let us rejoice that God has given opportunity for our faith to increase, for walking by faith is the key to pleasing Him. (See Hebrews 11:6.)
 
Opportunity to Give Thanks...
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" 1 Thessalonians 5:18 I read that Satan hates it when Christians thank God in their trials: "This does not mean you enjoy the suffering, but only that you rejoice because you are suffering in the will of God and you know that He is in control....When Paul and Silas sang and praised God in that Philippian jail, they completely ruined all of Satan's plans! (Read Acts 16:14.)"—from The Strategy of Satan by Warren Wiersbe This inspired me to "count my blessings" in my trial and thank God in every way that I could. Hebrews 13:15 calls this the "sacrifice of praise," and it will give us a new, refreshing perspective on our trials. It certainly did for me—as I turned my focus to the blessings that were a result of my pain, I became genuinely grateful. This was only by the grace of God, because of His great faithfulness.
 
Opportunity to Experience Spiritual Victory...
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:8-10 During a trial, there is so much at stake. We are likely confused and weak, either physically, mentally, or emotionally--or perhaps all three!--and the enemy may view this as his prime opportunity to condemn, discourage, and defeat us. We may discover that we are in a spiritual battle like never before. But the wonderful news is that we already have the victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57, 2 Corinthians 2:14)! The enemy's ruthless attacks should invigorate us even more to honor the Lord, because we can be part of a spiritual victory that impacts eternity for God's glory! We need to ask God to equip us with the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6 so we can claim truth and resist the wiles of the devil. Let's be motivated to not give one inch of ground to the enemy by keeping our minds fixed on the Lord and saturating ourselves in the truth of His Word.
 
Opportunity to Build Eternal Treasures...
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 All of us long for certain earthly blessings--good health, close-knit family, faithful friends, godly husband and children, the list goes on. In His great kindness, God provides many of these gifts. But take a moment to ponder: would we be willing to give up certain gifts now, in order to procure treasures in heaven for all eternity? It is so easy, for me at least, to develop a self-centered, temporal perspective. Yet trials challenge me to get my eyes off myself and onto the Lord. He uses my trials to work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! What an incredible promise! This is something I must believe by faith, since the things of eternal value are not visible by sight.
 
Opportunity to Focus on God's Purposes...
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 My mom shared recently that although all things do work together for good for those who love God, we must guard against a selfish perspective on this Scripture—it is ultimately for His purposes (Romans 8:28). His purposes are often different, and certainly higher, than mine (Isaiah 55:9). I exist for His glory and pleasure, not my personal happiness. (Of course, walking in obedience to Him does produce joy and fulfillment [John 13:17].) 

Opportunity to Worship God...
"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:20-22 A friend suggested that for me to praise God in my pain was to worship Him in the highest form. I will always remember a sermon preached by a man who was walking through a very deep trial. It was one of the most powerful sermons I ever heard, because he was clinging to God in a dark valley. The testimony of a believer who blesses God while enjoying personal gain is wonderful. But when the gifts have been taken away, their decision to continue to bless the Lord speaks volumes.
 
Opportunity to Love & Forgive...
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32 If your trial was inflicted or aggravated by others, you might feel tempted to resent them for causing your pain. Yet any rejection, betrayal, or wrongdoing we experience cannot begin to compare with what Christ suffered to pay for our sins...and He was without sin, the spotless Lamb! No matter how pure our motives in a situation, we cannot claim to have handled any matter perfectly. I have been comforted to glean from Christ's example, and in a practical sense to "commit my cause" to the righteous Judge Who does all things well. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth, Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously...Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 2:21-23, 4:19 May we love others, even those who have wronged us, with the love of Christ, Who in His great mercy loves us, undeserving though we be. (See Ephesians 2:1-9.) 
 
Opportunity to Surrender...
"...It is the LORD: let Him do what seemeth Him good." 1 Samuel 3:18 I once met a missionary who had a very deep walk with Christ. As I talked with him, I learned of several tragic events in his past. It seemed "unfair" that such a godly man would have to experience these dark valleys. Yet he shared that these trials were the tools God used to mold him. The likeness of Christ he exhibited was testimony to the way he had continually surrendered himself to the Lord and chosen to trust Him even when he could not understand. The Lord has shown me that every desire of my own He denies, provides more room for me to be filled with Himself. The trials He takes me through enable me to decrease so that Christ can increase in my life (John 3:30). All of us aspire to having a heart of faith and surrender, but there is nothing quite like a trial to spur us toward this. The more we surrender to the Lord, the more pliable we are in His hands.
 
In closing, please pray for me as I seek to walk out what I have shared in this article. Even though the trial I referred to is past, I still face a daily choice to claim the promises of Scripture and place my faith in God. I do not always respond properly, yet God is merciful; His compassions fail not. Great is His faithfulness.
   
I can honestly say that though I was hurting in a way I'd never hurt before, I was also comforted in a way I had never been comforted before. As deep as the pain runs, God's grace runs deeper still. These are not empty words--I mean this from the depths of my heart. Like Job, I could genuinely say, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee." (42:5) All my life I have said that "God is faithful," but that truth became more real to me than ever before. I am very thankful for the refining work God did in my life and the deeper fellowship I had with Christ because of my trial.
    
In your trial, may the God of all comfort strengthen and encourage your heart. We may never understand the "why" behind what is happening, but we know the Who--and that is enough.
 
 
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 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." 1 Peter 4:12-13

"Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering afflcition, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the  patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:10-11
 
"I Have learned to bless the wave that crushes me against the rock of ages" - Charles Spurgeon