Be thankful in life for your trials. If you’re being tested you are being perfected. Which means you have a divine purpose and reason to rejoice.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”
– Psalm 28:7
In the late 1940s, with the Russian occupation of Romania, came the persecution of Christians. Pastor Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were people who knew of God’s love and protection. After Richard spent fourteen years and Sabina spent three being tortured in Communist prisons, they were ransomed to the West, where, though they had been threatened with assassination if they spoke out, they started a ministry called Jesus to the Communists.
While in prison, Pastor Richard spoke to a Communist about his faith in God and said, “When an engineer has built a bridge, the fact that a cat can pass over the bridge is no proof that the bridge is good. A train must pass over it to prove its strength. The fact that you can be an atheist when everything goes well does not prove the truth of atheism. It does not hold up in moments of great crisis.”
As a nation we seem to be moving into more troubled times. Our conflicts with terrorist nations, the further eroding of our traditional Judeo/Christian values, and the challenges to our fragile economy might suggest to the faithless that there is no hope.
As believers we, like the Wurmbrands, know of God’s promises. We are able to face the trials and temptations in our lives because He stands with us. The Apostle James tells us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.“ – James 1:1-4 James goes on to exclaim, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” – verse 12
Whatever we face this week, remember “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.” – 2 Peter 2:9
Personal Challenge
What are the trials you are facing? How can you better appropriate God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to help guide you through your challenges? What specific verse can be your mantra for this week?