As a Christian, what should our response to trials and tribulations be? Troubles that are no fault of our own. Should we draw closer to God, pray for strength, courage, and guidance, or question our belief in Him for allowing this to happen to us?
All too often we feel that God has abandoned us and we begin to question our faith. We cry out "Why?? why would you let this happen to me God, it's not fair". This creates an open door for the enemy's assault. Satan bombards our minds with negative thoughts, causing us to obsess over the problem and in finding a way out, until it drowns out everything else. Leaving us unable to be social with family and friends, and unable to be productive in our work. Quickly falling into a pit of despair, of complaining, depression, anger, and just wanting to give up.
To respond properly we must first understand that trials and pressure are necessary for us to grow and mature in our faith. Faith is like gold that is revealed by the test of fire. We desire to grow in our faith more than anything, and this is part of the process. We are to count it all as joy when we fall into trials. I don't mean that we should put on a superficial smile and pretend to be happy, while inside we are in misery. The joy is in knowing that if we persevere, stand firm in our belief, focus on God and His word. We will endure, grow up as believers, and mature in our faith. God has not abandoned us, and will give us the strength to get through it.
Pressure does two things. It reveals character, and it produces character. We may think our faith is strong only to realize it isn't as we thought. Our faith, being purified by trials, produces a staying power that enables us to live under pressure. Trials will come and there is nothing we can do to avoid them. We can not speed up the process that God is using to produce endurance in each one of us, but if trusted, He will bring us to maturity in Christ. Isn't this the ultimate goal after all.
All too often we feel that God has abandoned us and we begin to question our faith. We cry out "Why?? why would you let this happen to me God, it's not fair". This creates an open door for the enemy's assault. Satan bombards our minds with negative thoughts, causing us to obsess over the problem and in finding a way out, until it drowns out everything else. Leaving us unable to be social with family and friends, and unable to be productive in our work. Quickly falling into a pit of despair, of complaining, depression, anger, and just wanting to give up.
To respond properly we must first understand that trials and pressure are necessary for us to grow and mature in our faith. Faith is like gold that is revealed by the test of fire. We desire to grow in our faith more than anything, and this is part of the process. We are to count it all as joy when we fall into trials. I don't mean that we should put on a superficial smile and pretend to be happy, while inside we are in misery. The joy is in knowing that if we persevere, stand firm in our belief, focus on God and His word. We will endure, grow up as believers, and mature in our faith. God has not abandoned us, and will give us the strength to get through it.
Pressure does two things. It reveals character, and it produces character. We may think our faith is strong only to realize it isn't as we thought. Our faith, being purified by trials, produces a staying power that enables us to live under pressure. Trials will come and there is nothing we can do to avoid them. We can not speed up the process that God is using to produce endurance in each one of us, but if trusted, He will bring us to maturity in Christ. Isn't this the ultimate goal after all.