Victory In Our Trials

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:3-9

Obviously, we don’t enjoy times of trial or conflict. Despite the assurance we have that God will always be by our side through any and every circumstance (Heb. 13:5), it is still natural to fear and bemoan such occurrences.

In hardships, however, we often forget the very words Christ spoke in John 16:33. We hear and certainly relate to the first part of His instruction: “In the world you have tribulation.” We’ve all faced enough problems to know that it is not possible to avoid them altogether. In fact, Jesus takes it a step further by asserting that our faith in Him will actually lead to even more attacks and criticism (15:18-20). Truly it is impossible for a devoted Christian to live trouble-free in a world that is hostile toward God.

What we tend to miss in Jesus’ statement, however, is the second half of the verse. After delivering the “bad” news that we would have tribulation in our life, He offers a word of hope: “But take courage! I have overcome the world.” Notice that He didn’t say, “I will overcome,” but rather, “I have overcome.” In Christ, the victory has already been won. He has victory over all things. Even the world’s greatest threat, death itself, has already been defeated by Jesus Christ.

Life certainly isn’t easy. However, we have a loving God who not only understands our suffering but also chose to experience it Himself. Because He did, we can now claim participation in the ultimate victory over every trial of life.

© Charles Stanley

Weed Out Distractions So You Can Hear God

The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit. - Luke 8:14 NIV

God wants to speak to you. But first, you must eliminate the distractions so that you can hear from him.

You can’t hear God when your mind is crowded with worries, your plans, and your activities. You can’t hear God when your mind is filled with TV, the Internet, and your cell phone. For many of us, there is too much noise going on for us to hear from God.

This is the soil with weeds. In Luke 8:7 Jesus says, “Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it” (MSG). Notice that the seed does get to sprout and actually starts growing. But after awhile the weeds choke it, so it never bears fruit. In verse 14 Jesus explains the meaning: “The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit” (NIV).

One of the biggest distractions that keeps us from hearing from God is busyness. A lot of people confuse activity with productivity. But these are not the same. You can be always on the go but still going in circles. If you’re always busy but not really making any progress, then there won’t be any fruit in your life.

There are three common weeds that tend to choke God out of your life.

The first is worry. The word “worry” really means “pulled in different directions.” You forget God because you’re filled with anxiety and stretched to the limit.

The second is riches. You can be so busy making money that you forget God. You put in a full day’s work, come home exhausted, and then get up the next morning and do it again. You’re so busy making a living that you’re not making a life with God.

The third is pleasure. What’s wrong with pleasure? Nothing — except when you’re so busy pursuing fun that you forget God.

There are lots of different kinds of weeds. A weed is anything you allow to take first place in your life instead of God. A weed is anything you allow to choke God out of your schedule.

How much effort does it take to grow weeds? None. Weeds are a sign of neglect. Whenever you neglect time with God and your small group, guess what? Weeds are going to grow in your life. It may not be these three, but there will be some. They’re going to grow up and strangle the spiritual life out of you.

God is trying to make contact with you. Is he getting a busy signal? You’ve got to be proactive and eliminate the weeds in your life so that God can speak to you and produce fruit in your life.

© Rick Warren

Responding To Our Trials

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. - 1 Peter 4:12-13

What is your usual response when you face times of trouble? Are you inclined to stand and fight? Perhaps you are convinced that you’re strong enough to handle any obstacle. Or maybe you do what so many others do: run as far and as fast as you can.

Trials are unavoidable in life. Instead of deciding how best to avoid them, we should instead focus on the way to respond to them. There are several things for the Christian to do when confronted with conflict.

First, we should trust God, based on His holy Word. Scripture assures us that the Lord knows our limits and will therefore never allow us to be pushed or tempted beyond our ability to persevere (1 Cor. 10:13).

Second, we must trust in His faithfulness. In times of trouble, take time to reflect on previous hardships. Did God help you then? What was the result of that trial? How has He shown Himself to be faithful at other times? (See Ps. 37:23-24.)

Third, we must make a conscious decision to persevere. Romans 5:3-5 reveals that persistence is a vital part of a healthy growing Christian life. Our encouragement is that perseverance in the face of trials leads to the hope which “does not disappoint” (v. 5).

Finally, it is important to acknowledge the sovereignty of almighty God. Our heavenly Father is never surprised by the tragedies in our lives. Rather, He stands ready to work in us (Phil. 2:13), through us (1 John 4:4), and for us (Rom. 8:31) to bring us to the point of victory in His Son Jesus Christ.

© Charles Stanley

God’s Purpose For Pain

Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. - Hosea 6:1 ESV

You—yes, you—can have a fresh downpour of God’s grace and mercy upon your life.

No matter how far away you are or how long you’ve been gone, God invites you to come back to Him. Hosea 6:1 is a call to personal revival: “Come, let us return to the Lord.”

The prophet Hosea ministered at a time when the people of Israel were far from God; prosperous, yet wayward, idolatrous, and self-indulgent. Successful in worldly pursuits, they were disastrously out of contact with the One they were created to enjoy most. Sound familiar?

But God will go to extremes to reach His wayward kids. As part of His plan to restore the Israelites to Himself, God instructed Hosea to marry a prostitute. Hosea’s faithful love for his unfaithful wife became a picture of the Lord’s persistent, pursuing love for obstinate people—like us. And His desire is for our restoration and revival.

Notice the invitation to “come.” You don’t have to be where you are. Hear the tender-hearted pleading; you don’t have to live the life you’re living. You don’t have to experience sorrow and heartbreak. You can return.

“Come let us return to the Lord, for He has torn us . . .” Make no mistake—God has permitted the pain in your life. But when you’re feeling torn in two, He has not abandoned you. Far from turning away in callousness, He’s moving toward you with compassion for the hurt He has allowed.

Maybe right now you’re in the middle of a trial God is divinely orchestrating to draw you to Himself. The pain will not go away until the reason for its arrival has been completed. God’s love is not a pampering love but a perfecting love. He is totally committed to you as He accomplishes the purposes for the hurt He has allowed. Sometimes the pathway to personal revival—to a further and deeper knowledge of Him—is through pain.

“He has torn us, that He may heal us.” But truth be told, we want the healing without the tearing. If that were possible, God would want it too.

Yes, He is the one who strikes down—but only so He can bind you up. Surgeons don’t lament the pain of a procedure. Just as a physician often must wound to heal, just as bone is purposely broken to be properly set or the skin cut open to remove a tumor, so God may inflict pain to ensure that your heart makes its way back to Him.

Will you let life’s pain bring you to God’s purposes? He knows you desperately need Him, and He’s willing to do whatever it takes to see you return.

Give yourself to the pursuit of God. Your doubt can become faith. Your discouragement can become joy. And your despair can become purpose and fulfillment—a reviving of your heart beyond what you could imagine.

© James MacDonald

How To Win Against Worry

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

Do you remember when you first got behind the wheel of a car? You had to consciously think about everything you did. Okay, let’s see . . . key in the ignition, look over your shoulder, and pull out. You had to think about it. It was challenging at first. But after a while, you got it down, and now it comes naturally. You don’t even think about driving anymore. You just get in the car and drive. It’s a conditioned reflex.

A conditioned reflex is something you learn. You teach yourself to do it, and through repetition, you find yourself doing it naturally. Then there is a normal reflex, which comes naturally. For instance, if you touch a hot iron, you will pull your hand away quickly because it’s hot. A child will do that too.

We also have normal and conditioned reflexes to fear and worry. Our natural tendency when we are in trouble is not to pray but to worry. Something happens, and we begin going through scenarios that stack up in our minds like dominoes. What if this happens? What if that happens? What if this other thing happens? The normal reflex when we are in trouble is to worry.

But what we need to teach ourselves to do is to pray. That is a conditioned reflex. It is not what we naturally want to do. When we get bad news, what should we do? We should stop and pray. That is what the Scriptures tell us to do.

Often when we are facing adversity, our first instinct is to turn to people for help. And there is no question that God can work through people. He can provide through family and friends and help us. But ultimately we should turn to God when trouble comes.

© Greg Laurie

The Message In The Storm

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. - Psalm 62:1-8

One of the most difficult things we’re to do as Christians is to “wait in silence for God only”. We tend to think of waiting as passively sitting back until something happens. However, in the midst of a stormy life event, we don’t like inactivity. Our instinct is to react quickly and force things to change.

But in this psalm, the word wait has a different meaning—it connotes “pause for further instructions.” Instead of opting for passivity, we must choose to stop our actions and listen for God’s directive. Sometimes the Lord is silent for a season, but He always has a purpose. He knows the perfect time for us to act, and until that moment, we need to wait. It takes more strength and character to be still in the midst of a storm than to frantically seek our own solution.

I can tell you that I, too, at times wait impatiently. When that happens, I can become nervous and question God or complain. But those reactions do not fit who we are as Christians. Paul tells us plainly to “be anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6); he instructs us instead to pray to the Lord, who offers peace. We’re to wait in silence without complaining, which means we must have patience. In order for that to happen, we must trust in God’s wisdom, love, power, and timing. We can’t go wrong when we rely on Him.

The key to finding peace in the storm is waiting for God only. When we refuse to do so, we are more likely to make bad decisions. He hears our every prayer, but we must be willing to wait in silence and listen for His reply.

© Charles Stanley

Sometimes God Speaks By Saying Nothing

If God is silent, what’s that to you? If he turns his face away, what can you do about it? But whether silent or hidden, he’s there, ruling. - Job 34:29 MSG

Sometimes God speaks by saying nothing. This is extremely frustrating to us! But God has his reasons when he’s silent. You have to just wait and trust him. If you run ahead of God saying, “I haven’t heard anything from God, so I’m just going to go ahead and do this” and you don’t trust him, you’re going to have all kinds of problems and be filled with regret.

There are many examples of this in the Bible. One of them was King Saul, the first king of Israel. He was getting ready to go to battle, and he went to God and said, “God, what do you want me to do in this battle?”

But Saul hadn’t been right with God for a long time. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 28:6, “Saul prayed to GOD, but GOD didn’t answer — neither by dream nor by sign nor by prophet” (MSG).

Saul tried to find an answer three different ways, and he still didn’t get it. So he got impatient. He got desperate, and he turned to the occult — something he had outlawed in the country. He said, “Go find a spiritual adviser. Find me a medium, a psychic, a witch, somebody who can conjure up spirits or do a séance.” He knew it was wrong, and he did it anyway because he got desperate. And you know what happened? He lost everything. He lost the battle. He lost his reputation. He lost his life. He didn’t wait to hear from God, and he suffered great consequences.

So what do you do when God is silent?

First, you remember that God is in control. Job 34:29 says, “If God is silent, what’s that to you? If he turns his face away, what can you do about it? But whether silent or hidden, he’s there, ruling.” God may not share his plan with you, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one. He has a plan and purpose for your life. He loves you. He’s a good God. And he’ll take care of you if you’ll just wait on him.

Second, you trust God. The Bible says in Psalm 50:14, “I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory” (TLB). God is asking you today, “Will you trust me? Will you trust me with that financial problem? Will you trust me with that dream? Will you trust me with that ache in your heart? Will you trust me with that stress? Will you trust me with that loneliness? Will you trust me with that desire to get married? Will you trust me with that health issue? Will you trust me with your dreams and ambitions? Will you trust me?”

Pray this prayer aloud or in your heart: “Dear God, I don’t want to go through life without hearing from you. I want to learn to listen. Thank you for the Bible. Help me to read it. Thank you for gifted teachers. Help me to act on what they teach. Help me to make some godly friends that I can trust and listen to. I want to be open to the ideas that you place in my mind. When I’m in pain, help me to learn from it, not run from it. Most of all, help me to trust you and your plan when you’re silent. Jesus Christ, I want to get to know you and love you like you love me. In your name I pray. Amen.”

© Rick Warren

Even The Smallest Details

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

When I was growing up, pet stores would sell little bunnies and blue– and pink-dyed chicks during the Easter season. People would buy these cute little bunnies and chicks and take them home, but the problem of course is that little chicks turn into chickens, and little bunnies become full-grown rabbits. They grow up. Little things turn into big things.

When it comes to prayer, we sometimes only think about the big things. But nothing is too small to bring to God in prayer. He is interested in even the smallest details.

The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (verse 6). Notice he didn’t say, “In only the big, hairy, scary things of life, pray. Only pull out the prayers when things get really bad. Otherwise, just sort it out yourself.”

Rather, Paul said, “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Little things turn into big things. And little problems turn into big problems.

Nothing is too small or too big to bring to God. “In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Do I give thanks to God before the prayer is answered? Absolutely. Do I offer thanksgiving to God even if He doesn’t answer the prayer the way that I prayed it? Absolutely. Because God is in control, and He has a purpose.

If we see God in all of His glory, we will see our problems in their proper perspective. It is not that your problem isn’t serious; it is just that your God is greater. And if you see that, it will change the way that you pray.

© Greg Laurie

Prayer: Ask God Specific Questions

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me. - Habakkuk 2:1 NIV

While you’re waiting for God to speak to you, you need to be ready for God to give you a mental picture. Habakkuk 2:1 says, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me” (NIV).

Why does he say “look to see”? Doesn’t it make more sense to say he will “listen to” what God says?

God’s voice is often visual. Sometimes God speaks to you by putting a mental picture or image in your mind. Some of you may think, “That’s kind of weird — God putting a picture in my mind.” If NASA can receive pictures from Mars, don’t you think God can put a picture in your mind? Of course he can.

So how do you look for a mental image from God if you’re not a visual thinker? Here are two ways that help me:

1. Ask God a specific question. James 1:5-6 says, “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him …. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you” (TLB). Those verses tell us three truths.

First, God wants you to ask him for advice. You’re not bothering him. He’s interested in every detail of your life, and he’s waiting for you to ask.

Second, the more specific you are, the better, because it builds your faith when you ask God for something specific and then he answers. Don’t be general in your prayers.

Third, God wants you to expect an answer. Don’t pray and ask God for help unless you expect that he’s going to help you.

2. Look into God’s Word. After you withdraw and as you’re waiting and watching for the Lord, you need to get into the Bible. I can’t tell you how many times God has taken a verse and, even after I’ve read a passage a hundred times, it suddenly pops out at me, and I see something I’ve never seen before. God uses the Bible to give answers to your specific questions.

The Bible says, “Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law” (Psalm 119:18 TEV). Ask God to show you new truths and his wisdom as you study his Word and wait on him to speak.

© Rick Warren

Learning Contentment

I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. - Philippians 4:11

I read about a man who was very proud of his beautifully groomed lawn. It was absolute perfection—that is until a heavy crop of dandelions came in one year, and he couldn’t figure out how to get rid of them. Finally he wrote an e-mail to an agricultural college and told them about all the things he had tried. He also asked if they had any suggestions.

They responded with a very short e-mail that read, “We suggest that you learn to love them.”

There are times when we find ourselves asking, “How can I get this problem to go away?” or “How can I get this irritating person out of my life?” or “How can I change my circumstances?”

Sometimes God will take the problem away. And sometimes God will say, “You know what? You just have to learn to love them.”

The apostle Paul said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Paul wasn’t saying that he was necessarily satisfied with his present spiritual condition. And though we need to be content with what we have, we should never be content with where we are spiritually. There should always be a bit of restlessness in our lives to want to learn more, to want to grow more, and to want to be transformed more, recognizing there is still a great distance to run in the race of life for each of us.

But notice that Paul used the word learned. He had learned in whatever state he was to be content. Contentment does not come naturally. We need to learn how to be content because we are naturally discontented people.

Despite what adverse circumstances we may be facing, we can learn to be content in the midst of a troubled world.

© Greg Laurie