"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~Abraham Lincoln
We all experience times of adversity in our lifetime. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Turn to God and His words during times of adversity for strength and comfort. When we put our faith in Him, He will help guide us to the path of happiness and peace.
Proverbs 24:10 (NIV) "If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!"
One of the absolutely essential keys of learning to "Walk By Faith," is learning how to "Face Adversity By Faith." For there is one thing we can all count on in this life--and that is adversity. Believers are not exempt from problems and pain. In fact, sometimes we are exposed to greater problems, persecution, and pain because we are believers! That's why Peter says, 1 Peter 4:12 "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you."
And when pain, hurt, disease, persecution, failure, and disappointment come your way you have only 2 ways to respond to them:
1. You can respond in the flesh by: complaining, doubting, questioning God, fighting back in self defense, quitting, becoming angry and bitter.
2. You can respond in the spirit by: James 1:3-4, “Knowing this that they trying of your faith worketh patience – but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing."
Problems have three purposes in your life.
(2). through the circumstances of life.
Here’s where James hits it right on the head.
III. FACT #3 – THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS
Our response to our trials determines the outcome of our trials. Our trials either make us or break us. It’s a matter of how we respond.
How do we handle trials? Ask for wisdom to handle the trial. Ask God for help and understanding. You need to say, “God, I know there’s something good in this for me. Help me to see your plan and your hand in this adversity. Show me how to respond so that I can get the best from this.”
I Cor. 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
You are not by yourself. There are other people in the Body of Christ that have experienced what you are experiencing. They have seen God bring them through. You may feel that God has allowed more to come on you than you can handle, but that is not true. God will always supply you with the grace that is needed to overcome all your trials. The wisdom God wants to give you is the wisdom or ability to properly apply and use the knowledge you have to correctly handle your trials and adversity.
Remember this: A good teacher only tests students on the information that has already been taught. The teacher also wants the student’s to pass the test.
So, if you are going through a trial, God has already supplied you with the information needed to pass the test. God wants to pass you to the next level of spiritual maturity.
Ask in faith. We must believe that when we ask God for help and wisdom He will give it to us. He will give generously and liberally.
III. FACT #4, THE REWARD OF THE TRIAL
James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” God says there will be a reward. I don’t think when we get to heaven the rewards will go just to the pastor, the evangelists or the men like Billy Grahams. The rewards will go to the people who quietly put up with difficult situations that helped develop the character of Jesus Christ in their life. Jesus said they’ll receive a crown of life. When the trial is finished and the purpose is accomplished, then there is God’s reward. God not only wants you to receive the reward, but He also wants you to love Him more.
Will you learn to grow through your adversity?
Will your adversity drive you closer to God?
Will your adversity drive you away from God?
Trials are a part of life.
Trials have a purpose in life.
Trials will provoke a response.
Trials will bring forth their reward.
The above portion is from:
Pastor Bill Ministries
Last Revised: November 8, 2016
© 1999-2000 All Right Reserved
And when pain, hurt, disease, persecution, failure, and disappointment come your way you have only 2 ways to respond to them:
1. You can respond in the flesh by: complaining, doubting, questioning God, fighting back in self defense, quitting, becoming angry and bitter.
2. You can respond in the spirit by: James 1:3-4, “Knowing this that they trying of your faith worketh patience – but let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing."
Problems have three purposes in your life.
- Problems purify your faith. James uses the words “trying and testing” He uses a word to describe the process of purifying and testing gold. You would heat the gold very hot until the impurities – the dross – were burned off. Job said, “He has tested me through the refining fire and I have come out as pure as gold.” The first thing trials do is test our faith. They purify us. Christians are a lot like tea bags. You don’t know what’s inside of them until you drop them in hot water and then you know.
- Problems produce perseverance in our lives. “The trying of your faith produces patience.” Another way of saying this is,“the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James is talking about staying power or endurance.
- The ability to keep on keeping on.
- The ability to hang in there.
- The ability to stay under pressure.
- The ability to stay until the purpose is accomplished.
- Problems help us mature. They help us to grow to become more mature. Trials produce perseverance that helps us to be mature and complete – not lacking anything. That’s God’s long range goal. His ultimate purpose is maturity. God wants you to grow up. There are two ways God makes us to become like Jesus:
(2). through the circumstances of life.
Here’s where James hits it right on the head.
- So many Christians say, “Everything was going great when I first got saved and then all these problems came.”
- They think maybe God doesn’t love them or maybe they’re really not saved.
- The truth is – they are exactly where God wants them. They are in the process of growing. He’s making them to be more like Jesus.
III. FACT #3 – THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS
Our response to our trials determines the outcome of our trials. Our trials either make us or break us. It’s a matter of how we respond.
- Respond with Joy
- Accountants add up numbers to make the balance sheets come out right.
- Sometimes our trials don’t add up from our stand point or our perspective. They just don’t add up or they just don’t make sense.
- Respond with Prayer
How do we handle trials? Ask for wisdom to handle the trial. Ask God for help and understanding. You need to say, “God, I know there’s something good in this for me. Help me to see your plan and your hand in this adversity. Show me how to respond so that I can get the best from this.”
I Cor. 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
You are not by yourself. There are other people in the Body of Christ that have experienced what you are experiencing. They have seen God bring them through. You may feel that God has allowed more to come on you than you can handle, but that is not true. God will always supply you with the grace that is needed to overcome all your trials. The wisdom God wants to give you is the wisdom or ability to properly apply and use the knowledge you have to correctly handle your trials and adversity.
Remember this: A good teacher only tests students on the information that has already been taught. The teacher also wants the student’s to pass the test.
So, if you are going through a trial, God has already supplied you with the information needed to pass the test. God wants to pass you to the next level of spiritual maturity.
Ask in faith. We must believe that when we ask God for help and wisdom He will give it to us. He will give generously and liberally.
III. FACT #4, THE REWARD OF THE TRIAL
James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” God says there will be a reward. I don’t think when we get to heaven the rewards will go just to the pastor, the evangelists or the men like Billy Grahams. The rewards will go to the people who quietly put up with difficult situations that helped develop the character of Jesus Christ in their life. Jesus said they’ll receive a crown of life. When the trial is finished and the purpose is accomplished, then there is God’s reward. God not only wants you to receive the reward, but He also wants you to love Him more.
Will you learn to grow through your adversity?
Will your adversity drive you closer to God?
Will your adversity drive you away from God?
Trials are a part of life.
Trials have a purpose in life.
Trials will provoke a response.
Trials will bring forth their reward.
The above portion is from:
Pastor Bill Ministries
Last Revised: November 8, 2016
© 1999-2000 All Right Reserved
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