Today’s Passage: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
Oftentimes, I have a devotional planned but then life happens and something else is foremost on my mind. This week, as I have witnessed friends struggling with adversity, health issues or other trials, I have been reminded of a few passages in the Scriptures that have helped us make it past the darkness and back into the light. I share these thoughts with you in the hopes that they will comfort you when you are faced with difficulty. You may consider printing it and sharing it with someone who is undergoing trials so that they may review the passages contained herein and be encouraged by God’s Word and your concern for their situation.
1. Trials are temporary.
It may seem that we are facing a trial that is neverending, but we can take comfort in the fact that there will be an end to our pain if we trust in the Lord. An end to suffering may come in our earthly lives as it did to Job when children were born and possessions were restored to him. No doubt he missed the children that he had lost and thought of them for his entire earthly existence, though he was blessed with more children and greater possessions than he had owned previously. Job was a very special man who kept his faith in God and never gave up even in the direst of circumstances, even though at times he felt the human emotions of fear and loneliness. Job stated, “Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud. And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me.” Job 30:15-17. This was surely a man with whom we can relate when overwhelming trials seem to be all we know for a time and I find the reading of Job to be comforting during troubling times.
James also advised that our life of earthly struggles is not forever in James 4:14: “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”. The trials of this life, though difficult to bear sometimes, are only temporary if we have been saved and follow the Lord’s commandments faithfully.
2. Every child of God faces difficulties.
This statement is very key to answering the question of, “Why me?” The first century Christians faced death in terrible ways such as in the Roman coliseum, in prison, by the hand of soldiers or by an angry mob. The Bible tells us that James was put to death by Herod likely beheaded as was John the Baptist. Various historical accounts detail the death of the other apostles and if they are correct, Peter and Andrew were crucified (Peter possibly head downward), Thomas was speared and James Alpheus thrown from the temple, stoned and then bludgeoned to death. It is suggested that Bartholomew was flayed with a whip. Though we cannot know for sure what happened to the apostles other than James and Judas Iscariot, we can be sure that many of them suffered and were killed for preaching the gospel as James and John were told in Matthew 20:23 (“You will indeed drink from my cup”). Jesus also told his disciples, “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. One thing that we do not see in Jesus’ life is the question, “Why me?” Though He did not desire to be persecuted, Jesus prayed to God, “May your will be done” Matthew 26:42.
Paul also suffered for the gospel. God said of Paul, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name" Acts 9:16. Paul gave a long list of things he had suffered for the gospel (II Corinthians 11:23-33) but he gives us hope when he summarizes by stating, “…That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
3. Suffering does not necessarily mean that we are more sinful than someone else.
Some feel that certain people’s struggles (i.e., natural disasters) are a result of their sins, and certainly sin can lead to consequences; however, the presence of suffering does not in itself indicate the presence of sinfulness. Christ and his disciples’ suffering in the examples above should quickly clear up any doubt on that issue. Furthermore, Jesus responded to the people who believed that Galileans who were persecuted must have been sinful, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
We should be careful to follow God’s will but we should be just as careful to ensure that we do not judge a person’s soul by the suffering that he or she undergoes. We should look upon others’ plights with compassion, in a spirit of love and concern. When undergoing trials ourselves, we should take comfort in the fact that God sees our suffering and will answer in His time and that we are not being punished for being “bad” because we were stricken with a disease or lost a beloved family member.
4. Only through suffering can we mature.
There are many passages that discuss sufferings as a means of purification and growth in the Lord. A very meaningful passage for Christians who are experiencing trials is Romans 5:3-5: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope." The patience we learn from undergoing trials will help us build character and this gives us hope through Christ’s sufferings and His example of hope. Further, those around us can be inspired to endure their own trials as several of my fellow cancer patients have served as models of perseverance in my life and have reminded me of spiritual blessings during my own journey. Never doubt the incredible example that you can be to others as indeed many of you have been for me.
5. Our sufferings for Christ will be rewarded.
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” James 1:12. What an amazing message to us! No matter how difficult our test, we shall be filled with peace and comfort when we receive God’s crown of life and what a beloved thought that God will reward us for our perseverance, though we are weak and fail him so often. This verse encourages me to get up off of my seat of pity and remember what God has in store for me if I endure. I could never deserve such a gift as this.
The beloved disciple of Christ, James, continues this thought in James 5:11: “As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Blessed be the Lord God whom we serve! He does not leave us alone in our sufferings but instead guides us along our journey. We are reminded in this passage of Job’s patience as we discussed earlier.
6. Jesus empathizes with us.
We serve a Christ who is not unable to relate to us, but instead who was persecuted and was tempted just as we are. Luke 17:25 states, “But first he (Christ) must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Christ was subjected to more sufferings than we can imagine and by His example and His willingness to serve as a mediator for us, we can overcome our sufferings as well.
7. Our fear can be overcome through Christ.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” I John 4:18. Perfect love is that which God showed for us when He sent Christ to die for us that we might be saved and live forever in heaven with Him. This perfect love should cast away doubt and fear from our minds, even when facing an enormous battle, for we know that God is on our side. And “if God is for us, who can be against us”? Romans 8:31.
Again we can know freedom from fear even while suffering for good: “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear’; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” 1 Peter 3:13-15
8. God cares for us.
Paul encourages the Christians in Corinth that, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” I Corinthians 10:13. God cares for us and does not want us to fail!
This thought is presented further in I Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God does not want us to suffer but due to the sin that came into the world through mankind as a result of ignoring God’s commandments, we live in an imperfect and troublesome world. Yet He does not intend for us to stay in this present state forever because He cares for us. What a joyful thought indeed!
9. The Spirit intercedes for us as we pray to God.
God also has not left us alone in our prayers. Jesus serves to mediate between God and man in our prayers and the Spirit of God intercedes on our behalf if we are living in the light. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” God has is always with us!
10. Bad situations can lead to good outcomes.
One of the most quoted passages in the Bible is very fitting as we think of our present sufferings. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. Even though we may suffer now, we can know that good can come of the situation. The death of a child may bring about the salvation of a parent. Disease can lead to the repentance of a wayward Christian. Regardless of the circumstance and how hopeless it may seem at the time, God is in control and knows how to rescue us from eternal harm if we trust and obey.
11. Heaven will be worth it all.
Our study cannot end without the consideration that heaven will be worth any trouble we encounter on this earth. Romans 8:18 is a powerful passage: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”.
And finally, let us consider Revelation 14:13 and the fruition of our faith and trust in our beloved Jehovah. “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.’” Revelation 14:13. Praise God and Hallelujah for our future home in heaven with the saved of the earth and the Lord God Almighty!
May you find peace and comfort in these passages. If you have a special need, I would be honored to add you to my prayer list. Contact me at saintschic@comcast.net. God be with you!
Amy
