Rejoicing in Trials

Romans 5:3-4 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."

Webster's Dictionary defines endurance as: the ability to withstand hardship or adversity.   God allows trials to enter the scene of our lives to build, if you will, our spiritual muscles. Just like a child who is carried all the time will not learn to stand or walk on their own, so a believer who never faces trials will not learn to walk by faith and walk in the spirit. 

Daniel 12:10a "Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials."

1 Peter 1:6-7 "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."

Our faith is tested and purified through the trials we face. God's desire is for us to not just "survive" through the trials but to be victorious in overcoming them. Trials can either build us up and make our faith pure or we can be defeated by them. The choice is ours. 

If you are given a year long gym membership, you have to choose whether to use it or not. If you really want to work on your physical body, to tone and shape, you will choose to go to the gym even though the pain it causes is uncomfortable and not really enjoyable. It is the same with trials we face in our spiritual life. We can "go to the gym" and build our spiritual muscles (faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). We do this by having the right attitude. (Philippians 2:5-8 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a salve and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.). If Jesus could leave the glory of Heaven and die for sins He did not commit, why do we often ask,"Why is this happening to me?"  We have not and will not ever have to face anything as awful as what Jesus endured for our freedom. Even if we were called to give up our life for our faith we would go to our death with all of heaven cheering. Jesus died totally alone.

Instead of asking why? We need to ask, "What am I supposed to learn from this trial?"  If we come to God with earnest hearts, seeking to grow and be purified He will answer and guide us through the hard times. He is looking for a people who are willing to go all in with Him and walk in purity and holiness. This can only be done by refraining from grumbling, complaining, whining, etc about our trials and embracing them. When we embrace them, God's strength becomes ours (2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”).  

2 Peter 2:9a "So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials,"

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”