Trials and tribulations come into all lives whether godly or ungodly.
An old and familiar adage regarding the Christian life states "Nothing can happen to you that hasn't passed through God's hands first." The implication is that ill and evil that happen to the Christian occur only when allowed, or appointed, by God.
We see supporting evidence in Job when God allows twice for Satan to beset Job with limitations (Job 1 & 2). We also see it when Jesus tells Peter that Satan has demanded that Peter be sifted (Luke 22:31-32). And there is a long-term example with Paul and the "thorn in his side" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
However, certain things are decreed to happen to everyone: like death.
Hebrews 9:27
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment
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Cultivation
God didn't just plop humanity on earth and turn us loose with a nonchalant "Good luck!" and dismissal.
His intent was to relationally dwell among His people as evidenced by His walking with Adam in the garden, by His presence in the tabernacle in the wilderness (which is remembered and celebrated in the Feast of Booths (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles), by His presence in the Temple, by the indwelling of the redeemed by the Holy Spirit, and by His future dwelling among the redeemed at the end of days (Revelation 21:3).
However, sin completely separated us from Him and His presence. Again, He didn't just turn us loose with a "See ya!" He gave us instructions on righteousness through history by way of the Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses, and the words of the prophets, and He offers restoration to Him through Jesus Christ.
Cultivation is the teaching and training in God's laws, His ways, and His principles and how to live obediently and faithfully in them.
Psalm 25:4
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
2 Kings 17:13
Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.”
Hebrews 1:1-2
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
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Challenges
Challenges are when we are tested on what we have had cultivated in our lives. Challenges come not only in various intensities, but in two manners: temptation and hardship.
Consider Job's challenges: His 500 yoke of oxen and his 500 donkeys were stolen by Sabean raiders, his 7,000 sheep were killed by "fire from heaven", his 3,000 camels were stolen by Chaldean raiders, his 10 children were killed by the collapse of the house they were in together, and his servants (at least except the 4 that returned to report the events) were slain.
After all these events, the last verse of the opening chapter of Job says "Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God."
For how we handle these challenges that we are given there are three outcomes: correction for our failing response, chastisement for our sinful response, and crowning for our godly response.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
The Greek word used for temptation is peirasmos which means:
- an experiment, attempt, trial, proving
- to attempt a thing, make trial of a thing or person
- to have a trial of a thing
- to experience, learn to know by experience
So this usage of the word temptation is not solely what we think of as something appealing to our desires and sensations, but on the whole is a testing of faithfulness.
Job's wife chided him saying "“Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). His response was “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10)
One thing to take away from this is in the opening phrase:
No temptation [trial] has overtaken you but such as is common to man.
No matter what you are facing, you aren't alone. Others have faced the same trial you are in, and they will know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. Don't fall into the traps of self-isolation and self-pity.
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Consequences
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." The principle behind Newton's famous law of motion is often applicable to more than just physics. At its basic level, it's a principle of consequences. However, outside of physics, the reactions may be lesser, equal, or greater than the action.
Have you ever been dismissive of an event that affected you adversely? Have you ever over-reacted to an an event that affected you adversely?
With a perfect God, His responses to His children are are always meted with mercy, and with grace, delivered with a perfectly appropriate nature and measure, and always done through love with our good as the end goal.
Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Correction
When we fail in our test, like a good Father, God shows us our error in order to correct our paths in following His ways.
Psalm 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Chastisement
When we sinfully fail in our test, like a good Father, God disciplines us. As with our earthly parents, the discipline may be a mild rebuke or it may be a painful rebuke. We can count on God's perfection for it to be not only an appropriate measure, but that its intent is for our betterment.
Hebrews 12:6-11
"For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Crowning
When we pass our testing, like a good Father, God rejoices in us and is glorified by our obedience and faithfulness.
James 1:12
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.
In Job's case he wasn't perfect in his endurance but made hasty remarks which resulted in God rebuking him (Correction). However, Job remained unwaveringly faithful to God throughout his plight so that God blessed him by giving him more children and replacing all that he had lost with two-fold increase (Crowning).
In all of this, we understand that the consequences for the correction, chastisement, and crowning are not conditions or processes for salvation. These are relational aspects of a good father toward his children for their instruction and blessings. God is the Creator of all people, but He is only Father to the righteous (the saved) not to the lost.
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Consolation
The bible has a lot to say about faithfulness, temptation, and trials. Some are warnings; some are promises; some are encouragements. But through it all, God doesn't leave His children alone in their trials.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 5:10
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
1 Peter 3:14a
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
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Conclusion
Expect trials to come. We are promised them.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
I issue us both, you and I, a challenge:
Accept the bitter trials that come into our life with readiness and even eagerness. God has allowed it or appointed it in order to strengthen us. Let us see these trials as God's pop-quiz given to us with the goal of glorifying Him by our growing stronger in The Spirit, growing closer to Christ Jesus, and in growing in obedience to the Father.
James 1:2
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
We may encounter tests in our life that we find relatively easy, but many of them will be extraordinarily difficult. In those times, this will by no means be an easy challenge.
- Joni Earekson Tada - paralyzed at 17 years old as a tetraplegic after a diving accident and has spent a life on fire for Jesus
- Nick Vujicic - born without arms or legs and travels the world speaking of the goodness of God through Christ
It doesn't take long at a visit to the websites of Voice of the Martyrs and Open Doors to see what some Christians around the world endure or sacrifice, up to and including their lives, for the sake of Christ.
Until the end, keep in mind what Paul wrote:
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Paul's sentiment is echoed in the verse of the old hymn:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
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Special thanks to my friend and brother in Christ, pastor Justin of the GospelFortified YouTube channel for feedback and critique. Go visit his channel for some solid biblical answers to modern and relevant topics. Don't forget to subscribe to his channel and like his videos to help the algorithm recommendations reach more people!
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