Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3
How do you learn the best? Is it by making mistakes? Trials? Lessons? There are five trials and three lessons that we can learn. Jesus brings us promises and hopes no matter what we are going through.
Read Job 1:1-21. Job is known as a blameless or righteous man, which means he had integrity and stayed away from evil. Do you wish you were like him? I do. He went through many, many complex trials, yet he kept his faith. What does Job hear from messenger #1? what does Job hear from messengers #2 and #3? How about from messenger #4 and #5? Do any of these trials fit your life? Let me break it down or reword it a little. Do you have any difficulties with trouble? Is there anything upsetting or inconvenient problem in your life that you can’t fix. How about tragedy? Is there a sudden loss, death, disaster, or evil deeds? Or how about a trial that feels like a tornado? Do you have emotional, relational, or financial collapse and devastation of the life you once knew? What about tests that are in turmoil? Do we have a struggle with our faith after suffering from great pain and loss? Do any of these fit your life right now? How does Job respond to all that is happening in his life? He grieves.
In our trials, we can learn to worship God more. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How much should our hearts trust God? Difficulties can teach us to depend on ourselves less and more on God. Read Jeremiah 17:9. What is the truth about our hearts apart from God? Trials can lead us to become more like Christ. God’s power can transform us from our selfish motives and the directions of our hearts. Read Romans 12:2. What must we allow God to do in our lives? Are there any constant spiritual battles or doubts about God that you have been fighting?
Have you ever taken the time to reflect on your trials? Can you find the root of fears about God’s provision, identity, and character? We need to get to a place where what we say about God is lived out by what we believe about God. Read Romans 5:3-5. What are the qualities that hard times produce in our lives? Read and meditate on John 16:33. What does Jesus promise?
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that as we go through the many different trials that we learn from them. I pray that we will learn the lessons from them and learn more about who you are.
In Jesus Name
Amen
