Trials: Not the absence of God but the evidence of Him

After spending over a week with brethren from many parts of the US and other countries it is clear than many if not all have endured trials or are continually facing them, or new ones had appeared. It seems few people have escaped the event and circumstances that could be summed up as a trial in their life. There are trials brought on by our own sins and selfish pursuits the trials I am referring to are those that come because of the will of God.

In a past church we attended they often would indicate in one way or another that the trials in your life area result of your sin whether directly involved or not. Some in that church also believed that even unexpected trials or ones that came on with no apparent sin are a result of hidden sin. In other words you have brought the trial you have by something you did or did not do against God. In some cases they believed it was somebody in the family, including the parents. Although we see that God did punish the sins of individuals this way in the bible from time to time he also allowed trials to be a part of the Christian life without sinfulness. 2 Timothy 3:12 shows that those who want to live a Godly life will be persecuted. Many who understand their bibles point to this scripture to combat the notion that being in Christ you will have a trial free life.

Jesus Christ himself also had the issue when he came across the blind man, The encounter was written in the Gospels as to show the real reason for difficulties and trials we did now bring on ourselves:

John 9: As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Even after the miracle was performed unbelievers condemned Jesus and the man and still believed his condition was because of his sin. It was a long held false belief idea that trials were brought on by sinfulness alone.

 Jesus showed that trials bring out God in believers. These are part of the covenant he has with his believers to suffer like He did for us. While they may be hard to go through when they are occurring they usually are stripping out the worldly parts of you and bring the glory of God out in you in the process. God does not want the unrighteousness in you, he wants you to grow in righteousness in Him. As the bible also says count it all joy when we are in a firey trial as these trials shape us in this righteousness according to His will.

Trials that come upon us that were not brought on by our own efforts are by the will of God. They are the evidence that he is working in us and is close to us. That they serve Him to shape us to be like Him. Understand that to the outsider these trials look like something we deserved or brought on ourselves no matter what their nature is. Thankfully we have a reassurance through faith that this is not the case. Faith also shows us that nothing is out of His hand and we still have His authority of their outcome.

Your Brother in Christ,

Steve Koenig

Lakeshore Fellowship