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Biblical, battle-tested, real-life help for "living by faith in the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20). — Steve Fuller

Facing Problems or Trials?

Sort of good news

The phone rang.  It was a good friend, one of the home group leaders in our church.

I knew his company had been going through layoffs, and we had been praying that he would not lose his job.

So he called with good news — sort of.  He said he would not be laid off, but that he had to transfer out of state to keep his job.

I was thankful he still had a job.  But my heart sank at the thought of him moving away — a friend, a co-laborer in the Gospel, a brother in Christ.

Trials

Every believer faces trials.

So how do you deal with trials?  Do you try to stay positive?  Do you say: “It will be fine”?  Do you look on the bright side?

What does it mean to trust Christ when we are facing trials?

Here’s what I think it means —

Turn immediately to trust Christ.

When we face trials we can wonder — does God really loves us?  Is he really for us?

So start by turning immediately to trust Christ.  Because when you look to Christ by faith you can be assured that God has accepted you, forgiven you, justified you (Heb 4:16).  You can know that God loves you and is for you.

Even if your heart is wavering?  Yes.  Even if you are fearful?  Absolutely.  As you look to Christ by faith, God is enthusiastically moving towards you to help.

Earnestly ask the Father to comfort, strengthen, and help you.

Don’t just go through the motions of prayer.  Passionately plead with the Father to help you.

Ask Him to strengthen your faith (Mark 9:24); comfort you (2Cor 1:3-4); fill you with hope (Rom 15:13).  He will.  Every time (Psa 86:5).

Fight to trust that this trial is under God’s loving control, designed by Him to bring you great good.

It might be hard for you to wrap your heart around this, especially if you are in the midst of a painful trial.

But God’s Word teaches that He is in wise and loving control of everything, including every trial (Eph 1:11).  He’s in ultimate control, even if another person has done something (Gen 50:20), and even if Satan is involved (Job 2:7,10).

So pray over Scriptures such as Acts 14:22, 1Pet 4:12-13, Rom 8:28 until the Holy Spirit enables you to see and feel this truth.

But this raises a question — what is the great good God brings us through trials?

Sometimes it’s the great good of seeing even more of His glory when He delivers us from the trials.  This is what the  blind man experienced in John 9:2-3.

So my next step is usually to …

Pray and ask the Father to deliver you from the trial.

That’s what Asa did when enemies attacked (2Ch 14:11).  That’s what Paul did when suffering from his thorn in the flesh (2Cor 12:7-8).

So pray for God to deliver you from the trial.  He can heal bodies (James 5:16), change circumstances (James 5:17-18), and redirect people (Prov 21:1).

And if God delivers you, receive the even greater good of seeing more of His glory — and worship (Luk 17:15).

But sometimes God has another purpose for the trial.  So while you are praying for deliverance, also take this next step …

Trust that if this trial continues, God will use it to give you even more joy in Jesus’ glory now and forever.

That’s taught in 2Cor 4:16-17–

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Trials take something from us — maybe health, money, or friends.  But they also prepare something for us — an eternal weight of glory, which means increased joy in beholding Jesus’ glory now and forever.  That’s why we do not lose heart.

Think of it like this: what if $1,000 was taken from your bank account?  That could make you lose heart.

But what if you knew that the $1,000 was being put into an investment giving you $100,000 a year for the rest of your life?  Would you still lose heart over the $1,000?  No.

That’s why we don’t need to lose heart over trials — because God has planned those trials to bring us even more joy in beholding Jesus’ glory now and forever.

But too often we do lose heart.  Why?

It’s because all we’re seeing is the losses — and we’re not seeing the infinitely greater joy of Jesus’ glory.

So this next step is crucial –

Prayerfully set your heart on Jesus Christ until you feel that knowing Him will more than make up for every loss.

Paul says the reason we don’t lose heart is because we look, not to things that are seen, but to things that are not seen (2Cor 4:18).

Trials threaten seen things — in my case a good friend, maybe in your case comfort, employment, or reputation.  And during trials it’s easy to focus on the seen things we’re losing.

That’s why we need to set our hearts on the unseen things — Jesus’ glory.  Set your heart on the truth of Jesus in God’s Word — and pray for the work of the Spirit.  He will give you such a taste of Jesus’ glory that you will feel that having more of Jesus is worth any loss.

That probably feels impossible — especially if you are in the midst of a trial.  But God promises that if you will pray earnestly and set your hearts on the truth of Jesus — He will lift you out of the miry bog, set your feet on the rock, and fill you with praise (Psa 40:1-3).

Here’s Scriptures that have helped me see Jesus — Mark 1:40-42; Mark 5:21-24; Mark 10:45; Luke 24:36-39; Gal 2:20; Col 1:15-20; 1Tim 2:5; Rev 1:5.

Fight to trust that God will provide everything else you need.

Part of your struggle may be fear of how this trial could destroy your finances, drain your strength, cause you pain, or require wisdom you don’t have.

But the good news is that God promises to provide everything you need — money, wisdom, comfort, strength.  Everything (Matt 6:33; Phil 4:13; Phil 4:19; 2Cor 9:8; James 1:5).

So pray over these promises until, through faith, the Holy Spirit gives you complete peace that all your needs will be met.

Duty calls

This heart-changing work of the Spirit might come quickly.  But it often takes time.  So first you may need to leave off prayer to take care of other responsibilities — like mowing the lawn or shopping for groceries.  But when you can, return to praying over God’s Word.

Because however long it takes, God promises to meet you in the Word and prayer.  He will fill your heart with satisfaction in His Son, and peace in His promises.  This is the great good He wants to give us in every trial.

Feedback?  Comments?  Pushback?

I’d love to hear them.  Feel free to leave a reply below.  Thanks.

Do you know someone is facing a trial or a problem?  Email this to them with the “share” button below.  Or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ using the buttons below.

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And here’s some other resources concerning problems or trials —

 

(The picture is by hjl on everystockphoto.com.)

Category: Problems or Trials

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20 Responses

  1. Samuel says:

    Over the last few months I have enjoyed reading your blog on an almost daily basis. I praise God for you and your words here. He knew I needed to not skip this one tonight. Thank you for always directing us back to His word! Blessings
    Sam

    • Steve Fuller says:

      Thanks so much for your encouraging words, Samuel. They came at the perfect time. I deeply appreciate you taking the time to comment.

      Onward!

    • Puleng says:

      Thanx for so cormforting words i nearly think to kill myself an my daughter because of the problem im having but now i know that god is with me all the time thanx

  2. Derek Fouche says:

    Hi Pastor Steve,

    I think the three resource links above are broken??.
    Loved the blog about your grandparents

    Derek

  3. Charles hendrix says:

    Thank you so much!
    I am beset with a very difficult trial.

  4. Anonymous says:

    I’m going through a very difficult time but after reading your blog . God is wonderful thanks a lot , you have helped to trust in God

  5. Paula says:

    Hi Steve, i think this is a terrific posting on how to seek God out in trials. The only thought I had was to perhaps modify “Duty calls” to somehow bring in the concept of “practicing the presence of God”, that we live coram deo, or some sort of thrust that God is ever-present in our troubles, and always accessable, where ever and whenever. In my present on- going trial, this is one major aspect of my relationship with God that he’s developed, and it is a pearl. I’ve learned to be able to speak to the Lord, “off the cuff”, as I would if he were right here with me. I can’t express how much this has changed my life.

    Looking forward to exploring your blog! ~paula

    • Steve Fuller says:

      Good input on practicing the presence of God, Paula. I will take another look at the “Duty calls” to see how I can integrate that truth.

      I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

      In Christ,

      Steve Fuller

  6. gordon davidson says:

    Steve, thank you for writing this post. Every Christian will go through trials, some worse than others, some longer than others, Mine is (still in it) long and deep. Shortly after I committed to Christ the wheels started to come off. That was in July of 2007, now its December 2013.

    The trial involved health, joblessness, estrangement from children, and alcohol addiction. Its been a long, tough slog. But God has been with me all the way., and I feel that I am close to coming into the light. But first I needed to get sober, which I did.

    Now, alcohol free, my relationship with God is the best it ever has been – it took this trial to get to this point. So, I still have some rough days where I get discouraged, but I do not walk away from God. In the last month I have had two “sessions” with the Holy Spirit – one focused on gratitude for what Jesus did for us (Isaiah 53) and one of speaking in tongue – not sure what that was about but I feel God is preparing me for something and its close.

  7. Magara George Wills says:

    i first appreciate God for enabling you be of great help to his p’ple.am really helped and encouraged.God bless u!!

  8. kirubakaran says:

    God will surly bless you. thank you for the wondering and eye opening message for this. may god will use you further ministry .
    GOD BLESS YOU

  9. John says:

    Well my life is not what I believe inn it to be things have happen to me that I never thought I’d share with no one yes iam a believe but it gets so hard and I just can’t see how am free of sin. BUT I know that he died for me and you , but my problems or questions and why it’s happening to me and I try as hard as anyone else yes I pray for a change everyday. God Bless all that believe in Jesus

  10. Anonymous says:

    Hello everyone,
    As I type this message tears are flowing so heavey. I lost my job last night and my fiance dumped me 2 weeks before. Not only that I got some disturbing news 1 yr before that. When I tell you all I’m so drain bc if its not one thing it’s another. I’m so tired I’m so tried of being depressed and never happy. Please pray for me. I love u all and God blesd

    • lee-anne says:

      Dear Anomymous
      Please take heart and Believe that God is there for you. I know it is hard to see the light but know you are not alone. God sees your tears and feels your pain, and he will never leave you. I have been in admist of trials for 9years now, marriage breakdown, lost home, depression and now unemployed. It hasn’t been easy and some days I don’t want to get out of bed, but I believe God has always my best interests at heart. You lose something to receive something better. Please pray and call upon the Lord and never give up. I am praying for you.

  11. Glenda says:

    Dear God I’m struggling with out money an god merciful an you are my Lord an savior I’m tired of trying an I still got nothing but I’m thankful for what I do have an that is you lord god please help me lord god in you name amen

  12. sandra Escobar says:

    Thank you for your comments please pray for. Me God bless you

  13. Phyllis says:

    Thank you I have enjoyed reading the reply. Well I lost my Job April, and Have not found one yet. The interviews have gone well, and then no job. Presently job interview in California. Company wants to hire me, but they want to see what I look like. Not sure. Then I just got notice to move in 7 days or I will be evicted. But God has told me to trust him no matter what. And I am, it gets hard at time.

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