Trials of the Christian

For the Christian, trials are expected. We understand as the people of God that difficult situations and hard times grow our faith and situate us closer to God. But there are times that we do not understand, or that we have suffered long and hard with no end in sight and the treasure of our hearts seems far and away from us. This is where I find myself today. I am writing this because I know there are other Christians who feel the same way sometimes. And because I am certain there will come a time when I will be able to post in rejoicing that the Lord has blessed all of this.

It is not an easy thing to admit to despair as a Christian. I wonder at times what we've done to bring this upon ourselves, and often have thoughts telling myself that God is perfectly within his rights to draw away His mercies from me because I don't deserve them anyway. We wonder if we have failed to learn something in the past trials or if we've made wrong decisions. I am really even unsure how to begin to pray about all of this. I know in my heart He hasn't gone anywhere, and His love is just as great today as it always has been, but in my ignorant humanity...what else can I say? We have been through a series of events in the last 6 years where I have seen major miracles in times of great distress and God's hand everywhere. But these tribulations seem to be picking up in speed and sequence, and there is no answer for when it will stop, or what it's all for to be found at this time. My husband and I have noted that seemingly every time our hope begins to be restored and we start climbing out of the ditch something else comes along to knock us back down there. It seems cyclic and constant for us. Constant health struggles with the bills to go with them. Constant little situations that all add up big. Constant distractions from and persecution for what God is calling us to do. Constant financial issues and guilt for past bad decisions in that area. And I suppose the hurricane this week, my husband's transmission breaking, our family being separated for days, Rob's bad work situation this week, being completely surrounded by water with almost no way out at my dads, my daughter's birthday being this week, and several other things have pushed me to where I find myself today....crying for hours and broken. The Lord has provided our needs in all of this, and I praise Him that today we are all well, home, and safe. I also thank Him that I'm not is some prison cell in North Korea for reciting a Bible passage.

So what do I do? Firstly, I remember those times where I watched in awe as God worked miracle after miracle in my family. I remember that He is good, He loves us, and He has never left us. Secondly, I have sought examples of other Christians who have been through severely difficult situations and their journeys of faith. Namely Job, David, and Paul. Then, I looked up tribulation in my bible dictionary...it says that it comes from the Hebrew "tsara" that means "narrow" or "compressed", and the Greek "thlipsis" meaning "severe constriction", "narrowing", or "pressing together". It says that the Latin "tribulum" (a threshing sledge) is similar in conveyance and meaning. (I'd say all that is an accurate description of how I feel today) It says also that tribulation is inevitable and expected in following Christ and that going through these tribulations are in effect sharing in the sufferings of Christ. And it says finally that tribulations transform us more into the image of Christ and teach us to comfort and encourage others going through various trials to persevere. Searching the scriptures always brings me comfort...so here I go.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Job 23:13-17
But He is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back? What He desires, that He does. For He will complete what He appoints for me, and many such things are in His mind. Therefore, I am terrified at His presence; when I consider, I am in dread of Him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.

Psalm 77:7-13
Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has His steadfast love forever ceased? Are His promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion? Then I said, I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the deeds of the Lord. Yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God is holy. What god is great like our God?

Love in Christ