From the previous review, we can recall that ‘trial’ is God’s way of training his own children; temptation is a trap set by the devil; test is a way that God checks the quality we possess as children of God. And as believers, we’ll have to pass through these three phases- the knowledge of God does not acquit you from these afflictions (in fact you will not know them until you believe).
TEXT: 1 Peter 4:12-14, Psalm 34:19, Hebrews 12:7, James 1:12, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 119:67,71,75, Psalm 51:4, Psalms 6:1, 2 Samuel 11:1-4
When trials befall you, don’t begin to say, “Why me?” Always appreciate the goodness of God in your life (learn to cultivate the habit of gratitude) irrespective of your trials, temptations, or tests. The blessings of God that you enjoy free of charge, are not actually your right; you are born the same way as many others on the street who are crippled and indigent, but have you ever stopped to say, “Why not me?” when you see these individuals? The truth is, we are all partakers of tests, trials and temptations (God allows it).
Brethren, you need to understand that if you do not pass through trials, there cannot be glory and you can’t be promoted; you need to endure whatsoever trial God brings your way so you can be glorified by God.
Believers often mistake temptation for trials; temptation is first of all allowed by God but it’s not from him. James 1:13 explains that no man is tempted by God, but every man is tempted of his or her own lust. So brethren, temptation is a tool used by the devil to help you actualize the lusts you have conceived overtime, and this lust comes in place when there is disconnection from God. A disconnected Christian is not safe out there, you have to deliberately keep your connection with God, intact.
Here is a secret you should consider to get wisdom:
You have an opposition (Devil) who is taking time to study your weakness, and by that, would attack you.
What Can Bring Trials?
One of the things that bring trials to believers was explained in Psalm 119:67. David went through trials because he went astray (he wasn’t in his position); David was supposed to be on the battlefield at the time but he chose to stay back, and that incurred idleness and distraction. Going outside God’s way is something that can always bring trials to you if actually you are God’s own, and many of you are currently passing through a kind of trial because of your disobedience.
The bad thing about it is that most times, you go through this trying time without accepting the blame rather, you justify yourselves.
David admitted his wrong and God delivered him from his afflictions. If you need help from God as a man going through a self inflicted trial, you must humble yourself before him and admit your fault; this is where many of us fail, we come before him, justify ourselves and still seek deliverance. Until we have a heart like that of David, there will be no deliverance from our trials.
Joseph, A Good Example
Joseph went through test, trials and temptations without failing God. He went to prison because he overcame temptation; he was the perfect type of perfection. Joseph went through the three processes (test, trial and temptation) and stood out! His glory came after surviving and this explains the good side of trial; for every won trial, there is an awaiting glory.
Joseph is an example of who we are; he was loved by his father just like we are loved by God, and his father made a coat of covenant for him which also types the covenant of God upon us in this dispensation of grace. At a deeper look into the whole process of Joseph’s trials, we can pin point consistency, favour, grace and so many interesting things that can help us survive our current trials. For every of our trials, there is always a provided favour, grace, endurance and so on. Failure to key into this provided tutorials assigned for your trying period is going to prolong your trial time.
Joseph went through his trials, and took time to learn all that he ought to. God did not fast forward the process even when Joseph made plans to do that by telling the prisoners to remember him after their freedom; God intentionally made them forget him right there in the prison because his training was still on- same goes with us. We cannot fast forward our trials until we learn what we have to because it’s God’s tool to work upon us, just like Joseph was worked upon (he had things to drop for him to be promoted).
Brethren, in as much as trial is a tool used by God to make us better, about 30% of the cause of our trials is self inflicted. The Bible says,’Joseph was loved by his father above his brothers’, this must have imputed some habits which are not compatible with what God wanted from him, and the best way God could work upon him was to take him through a trying time. Can you also take time to do a thorough check into what God wants you to drop as you go through your trials?; you as a housewife, youth, husband have you taken time to drop what you have to drop? Why prolong your trying time because you have refused to learn in the process?
The good side of Joseph’s trials was that he was promoted; he became the centre of attraction because he had taken time to forsake the things God wanted him to forsake during the process of his trial, and he had also taken time to learn what he had to. Brethren, I implore you to do the same as Joseph so as to earn the good side of your trials because for every trial, there is a blessing attached; don’t deliberately prolong your trials because of your refusal to learn in the process. I pray God helps you in Jesus Name, Amen!
Shalom, brethren!
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