“Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it? Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or steppingstones?” The only way to endure, the only way to make adversity into stepping-stones, is by turning to Christ. Trials and tests, you will encounter: They will come.
What Are Fiery Trials?
What are fiery trials? They are intense encounters or struggles, bursts of anger, grief, or lust. Infirmities: physical limitations and illnesses. Reproaches: ridicule and rejection on account of faith or holiness. Persecutions: harassment and oppression due to religious convictions. Distresses: disappointments and deep hurts. Tribulations: unusual pressures and challenges. Temptations: opportunities to yield to our sinful nature.
The Bible says, “For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Persecution arises to steal the truth from you—to try to stop you from walking in life and freedom and to try to stop you from sharing the gospel with others and seeing them saved and set free.
The Apostle Paul regarded these “tests” as opportunities to grow spiritually. Instead of despairing when he encountered trials, Paul said he would glory in his infirmities so that the power of Christ would rest upon him. (See II Corinthians 12:9.) As we, like Paul, choose to trust God and accept the grace He gives us, Christ’s character will be formed in us. “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3–5).
What is a believer to do when faced with many disappointments, disasters, trails, and test and test, after test? The Bible says, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). That is why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. (Romans 8:28) Message Bible.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12–13).
How Do Trials Make Us Stronger?
God allows trials in our lives so we will grow up spiritually. God’s ultimate purpose for us in trials, and in life, is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Please understand, God knows every trial and every heartbreak you go through in your life. He knows every detail of your life. He knows every challenge you face. He sees every need and cares deeply about each one. However, as much as He cares about your physical needs, He cares even more about your spiritual needs. Your spiritual growth can often be achieved more readily by trials and adversity than by comfort and tranquility. Trials can teach us that faith in God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ is the source of inner strength. James said:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
You can be confident that God will not allow anything to happen to you without His permission, and He will not let any “bad thing” happen that will not ultimately bring you better than destruction. (See I Peter 4:12–13, Romans 9:14–24, Isaiah 55:8–9, Job 1:6–12, Genesis 50:20, and Psalm 121.)
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter 4:12–13).
One thing we as Christians can count on according to John 16:33 is that in this world we shall have trials and tribulation. Jesus also tells us to be of good cheer. Why? Because He has overcome the world, and thus through Him we can become overcomers ourselves.
There is a place where you can go in any season that you are in. It is a secret place where Jesus dwells. Remember, you are not alone, Jesus is right beside you. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. (Romans 8:26) Message Bible. He is with you all the way.
What should we do when we face tests and trials?
1. Give thanks.
Sometimes just being thankful in a difficult situation is the most difficult thing you can do. Yet, Scripture is clear about this response: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). However, through trials, “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2. Rejoice!
Along with giving thanks, we also are instructed to rejoice through it all: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Thanking God is an act of the will, and an act of worship but rejoicing is a response of the spirit. Tests and trials give us opportunities to come to know God better and to bring glory to God.
3. Believe and Act on the Word of God.
When Jesus was tested in the wilderness, He responded to each temptation by quoting Scripture. For example, when Satan urged Christ to turn stones into bread, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
We can follow Jesus’ example and successfully engage in spiritual warfare by proclaiming truth in the face of tests and temptations.
Ephesians 6:17 describes the Word of God as “the sword of the Spirit”—the only offensive weapon in our spiritual armor. Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). They are also the authority by which we can claim the promises of God, since we are told, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7).
4. Cry out to God.
Know matter what test or trials of life you go through, in the outcome, we need God, and we are going to learn to depend on Him. He alone must become our source of strength, provision, protection, and direction. God can protect us from every trial or distress. Instead, He often chooses to deliver us during trials.
In Psalm 50:15, God said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” God’s goal through our trials is to strengthen our dependence on Him.
5. Overcome evil with good.
We are believers and we are overcomers. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11 (KJV)
If you react to a person who offends you and become bitter toward him, you put yourself in an emotional prison. Bitterness will control your thought life, your emotions, and your health. To be freed from this prison, you must forgive.
Scripture provides many examples of those who forgave offenders, including Job, Stephen, and Jesus Christ:
- Job’s companions were about to encounter God’s wrath, but Job prayed for them, and God delivered Job: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends . . .” (Job 42:10).
- Stephen prayed for God to forgive his murderers, even as they were stoning him: “And they stoned Stephen, [who was] calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59–60).
- Because Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities (see Isaiah 53:5), we are among the group of people He released when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
God has assured us that He will not permit us to be attacked with trials or temptations that are too overwhelming for us to handle. He will grant us grace to be overcomers.
Know matter what we go through, remember what God said in His Word.
In I Corinthians 10:12–13, Amplified the Apostle Paul exhorts us with these words,” No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].
In 2 Corinthians 34:19 (Amplified) “For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure surpassing all comparisons, transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness.”
In Psalms 34:19 (Amplified) “Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the Lord rescues him from them all. Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, But the Lord rescues him from them all”.
Paul says that every trial, every disappointment, was for the purpose of the gospel. Through his bonds other followers of Christ became bolder in speaking the Word (Phil 1:14), not only this, but through each test he was gaining precious lessons in obedience to God (Phil 4:11,12). And Paul was not the only one; Peter was also learning as he entered back into the boat with Jesus.
When we are sincere in our walk, when Christ brings us through the various trials in our life, he does not allow us to believe there was nothing to gain from being in the storm.
After pulling Peter from the waves surrounding him, He beheld him with the tenderness He looks at all the members of the family of God, and He said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt 14:31). “Why did you turn away from Me? I didn’t call You to come to Me amid the waves and then leave you to perish.” Jesus was preparing His impulsive disciple for the time coming when a more ruthless storm was to come upon him. If Peter had learned this lesson of faith, he would not have failed when that test came upon him…. He would not have denied his Lord.
What does the Bible Say About Overcoming Trails?
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” (James 1:12).
Only those who remains steadfast, unmovable under trials will inherit eternal life. Only those who stand firm through these things will be saved. will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
This is a promise for believers. Those who are living for Jesus. Knowing that we serve a loving God, he’s going to turn everything for our good. Nothing will ever separate us from his love.
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
God has called you to eternal glory in Christ. He wants you to share in His glory! He is for you, not against you! As the verse promises, “God will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” The Lord will bring this to an end—the outcome doesn’t depend on us. It’s a gift of His grace in Christ. He will restore us. He will confirm our position as His children. He will strengthen us by His mercy. He will establish us as heirs of His promises. No matter what we face, there will be a glorious end to our suffering.
What Does the Book of James Say About Trials?
James gives us insight into what it means to live a godly life. When we come under trials of many kinds, James gives us godly wisdom that can stand the pressure of any worldly trial. We see through James’s teaching that on our own we cannot possibly live God-pleasing lives, but by God’s grace and His Word we can live with confidence in the face of difficulty. In the course of our lives, we can become weary of the trials that we face as Christians. But in due season, at the appointed time, we shall reap if we do not cave in, give up, or quick.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.— Galatians 6:9
As a believer, we must stay steady and on track with the assignment the Lord has given to you! Believe me, I know what it’s like to get tired of staying steady and holding the course.
But those moments when you’re tired and tempted to quit are the exact times when you need to grab hold on the Word of God, hold it tightly, be determined that you are not going to stray from your course, but you are going to keep your focus on the prize, until you’ve finished what God asked you to do!
In moments when weariness tries to get the best of me, I meditate on Galatians 6:9, which says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. In this verse, God commands you and me not to surrender to any temptation to give up. He promises that in “due season,” a harvest will be reaped if we won’t quit — the manifestation of what each of us is believing for will come to pass if we will not cave in and give up.
The most common thing that causes one to loosen his grip is weariness. That’s why Paul urges you not to throw in the towel in times of spiritual, physical, or mental exhaustion. It’s exciting to plant seeds of faith, and it’s really exciting when harvest comes. But in order to reach that point of reaping, you must hold on tight to what God has told you and remember that your seed has a set season when it will produce if you don’t disrupt the process.
When people don’t see the manifestation of what they are standing for, they are tempted to quit believing because they get tired. Maybe you have felt this very same temptation. But God promises you in Galatians 6:9 that if you will remain steadfast, remain true to God’s Word, your time of waiting will eventually produce a harvest — the manifestation of what you’ve been waiting for and believing to see will come to pass.
We’re all believing God for something, and we are sowing seeds toward it. I don’t know what you’re trusting God for in this season of your life. But I want to reassure you that God’s Word and His promises are absolutely true — and if you will just refuse to give up and quit, hang in there, it’s only a matter of time until your long-awaited blessing arrives! |
God wants us to come to a place where we are whole, he wants what is best for us. We are whole when we are fully relying on his grace. This is something that we learn and know best when our faith is on trial. To suffer and live for Christ is one of the great joys of being a Christian. For we know that anything we do as an act of worship toward God, or any sacrifice we make for his eternal kingdom, is honored by God.
What Does Trials and Tribulations Mean in the Bible?
According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Tribulation is trouble or affliction of any kind (Deuteronomy 4:30; Matthew 13:21). In Romans 2:9, “tribulation and anguish” are the corrective sufferings that shall overtake the wicked. In Matthew 24:21 and Matthew 24:29, the word indicates the trials that were to accompany the destruction of Jerusalem.
As believer’s, I believe that you can learn how to keep some of the adversity that may strike you in this life away from you if you can learn how to properly plead the Blood of Jesus for deliverance and protection, by praying the 91st Psalm, along with learning how-to walk-in God’s anointing.
The Bible tells us that we have to fight the good fight of faith and learn how to walk with God’s anointing in your life, then you can either keep a lot of these storm clouds from ever hitting you in the first place, or you can quickly defeat them once they do come knocking at your door. As believers, in this life, we will face trials and adversity from time to time. There is simply no getting away from it. But remember, you are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:11-18
Growing Through Trials.
As believer’s, God doesn’t want us to merely go through trials; He wants us to grow through trials. Throughout the Bible, we find godly men and women who turned defeat into victory, trial into triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. The apostle James tells us that we can have that same experience today. No matter what the trials may be on the outside (James 1:1-12), or the temptations on the inside (James 1:13-27), through faith in Christ, we can grow through trials.
According to James, we should work to cultivate a positive attitude toward affliction: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials… (James 1:2). In other words, our outlook determines the outcome. How we perceive trials will inevitably influence how they impact us. If we view trials as intruders, they will rob us of our joy, and negate the positive contribution God desires they make in our lives. James tells us here that we need to adopt a positive mindset toward the trials that assail us.
In addition, we must realize that God uses trials to develop endurance: “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2). In order to view trials in a positive light, we must understand their intended purpose. Rather than obstacles to avoid, they are God’s choice opportunities for spiritual growth.
Trials aren’t meant to destroy our faith, but to refine it. And the truth is, God is more interested in developing your faith than in prolonging your pleasure. When trials come your way, you need to realize that God uses life’s troubles to reveal the depth and genuineness of your commitment to Him. When we realize that trials are part of God’s program to develop our character, it becomes much easier to view afflictions positively and trust God, no matter how “hot the furnace gets.” We need to focus on the product, rather than the process, of our various trials. So, when you find yourself under fiery trial, God wants to use it to shape you, mold you, and make you more like Jesus.
Free Printable Bible Verses
I hope you enjoyed these free printable bible verses and find a place to display God’s word in your home or a friend you can pass a verse along to and bring encouragement to their day!
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