You have been having a great week. Everything has it's place. All are wearing smiles. The house is clean. The car is running great. Your parents are healthy. Your children just rocked their report cards. The job doesn't even feel like a job. You are loving your life this week. Then it happens. It seems to come out of no where. Trial is standing at your door. It's knocking and matter of fact, it's just going to walk on in whether you are ready to answer or not. In fact, it's going to have itself a seat in your living room. Oh, yes, the family room, where everyone gathers.
Why do we always say, "It just came out of no where"? No it didn't. It certainly came from somewhere. We just weren't looking when it approached and capsized our yacht right in the middle of our sunshiny day.
God doesn't bring everything to us in punishment as some would like to teach us. Just because trial comes it doesn't mean you have done something terribly wrong. We often ask, "God, what did I do?", when in fact we should ask, "God, what do you want me to do?"
Trials enter our lives whether we are living a life as a Christian or not. The difference is in how we react to the trial. We can either curse God and all around us or we can look to Him for support and comfort as we praise Him through each and every fiery step.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."
1 Peter 4:12-13
In studying I am learning there are four things we should do when trial comes knocking.
1. Expect it
2. Rejoice in it
3. Evaluate its cause
4. Entrust it to God
Isn't that good stuff? Of course, in this life we should expect trial. Why should we be exempt from pain? Rejoice knowing that God has a purpose and reason for allowing it. Always pray and seek His face asking Him to reveal it's purpose. The best yet is to simply trust God with whatever is at the door. Why not even let Him answer the door instead of us standing there in fear and shock? We certainly can't run from everything. There are those things in which we must face. In Christ we can know we can face them without fear, because Christ has given us everything we need for this life.
Through the testing of our faith we are cleansed from our unrighteousness. We can be found washed in the grace of God as we grow closer to Him, calling Him and seeking His face with each step we make.
Instead of screaming out, "Oh no, not again!", may we stand in strength and peace, saying, "Yes Lord, show me, teach me, and bring me to the being you have created me to be." So friend, today be in prayer. Be ready for all that is to come and be prepared and grounded in faith. Always choosing to focus on God and not the trial at hand. Through our steady gaze at Him, He will show us just we are to experience and grab hold of through our trial. I am learning that everything in life is a teaching tool. A lesson that brings me closer and closer to my Savior.
So, don't be so surprised today as trial comes knocking. In fact, answer the door in praise and rejoice, knowing God has big things planned for you!
