Enduring Trials

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” - James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬

We are finished with the Armor of God series and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This week we are not starting a new series, but instead I am reflecting on some recent life events and looking at them through a biblical lens. I pray that this may help you endure during moments of trial, knowing that doing so not only serves as evidence of genuine faith, but that it also builds us up and equips us for greater responsibility in our service to the King.

I have recently gone through a lot of trials, hardship, and difficulty. I am not saying this to ask for sympathy. It is just part of life, especially life as a follower of Jesus Christ. We are promised to face hardships, but it is not the hardships that define us. We are defined by Jesus Christ because of God’s grace that allows us to know Him by having faith in His Son. Whether you are dealing with the passing of a loved one, leaving a role in ministry that you felt called to do, or the betrayal of someone you trusted, God gives us a clear game plan for how to face these trials.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” It can be incredibly difficult when someone slanders your character to your face and in the presence of others. But how should we respond? I would be lying if I didn’t confess that among my initial and instinctual reactions is to try to “get even.” But getting even is not what we are called to. We are told by our Lord that we are blessed when people persecute us on His account. When the apostles were arrested and flogged for preaching in the name of Jesus, they rejoiced in that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:40). Rejoice in persecution, especially when it is from people you think you can trust, and especially when they try to discourage you from pursuing ministry for the kingdom of God. You are blessed.

In the past month, I have allowed the voice of man to persuade me into questioning whether I should ever pursue ministry in any capacity again. Even this very blog was something I began to question the future of. In the midst of this trial, my wife and I began to devote our evenings to a study through the book of James. James is a very straightforward and practical book that helps Christians pursue Christ in a better way. Our marriage has benefited from this study, as has my walk with the Lord through this season of trial. In James 1:2-4, James writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

When we face a trial, the first thing we should do is pray. To ignore prayer in a time of difficulty is to deny God’s sovereignty and grace. To deny prayer is to pridefully rely on oneself. As a Christian, we must always be quick to take every aspect of our lives to the Lord in prayer. Next, we must read His Word. We cannot know what God requires of us in a situation without knowing what His Word says. Lastly, we must humbly put into action the things we know to be true based on the Word.

When the walls are closing in, when trials find you, and when you know things are being said about you that are either entirely untrue or only half true, we must remember James 1:12, which says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Our faith grows stronger, and we become more sanctified when we undergo and successfully and humbly yield to God in our responses to trials.

What trials are you facing today? Are you facing them with the knowledge of these truths from scripture in mind? I encourage you today to lean into the trial, take it all to God in prayer, and watch Him grow your faith in the days that follow. It may be difficult, but I promise that you will never regret doing things the Lord’s way.