Are You In a Time of Trial?

Have you ever asked the question: Why would God allow this to happen? As a pastor this is a question I often hear. It may be in regards to a tragic death, a natural disaster, a personal crisis or innumerable other things. While we cannot know the exact reason an earthquake strikes Haiti, or a young couples baby dies; I can tell you without hesitation God uses personal trials to draw us to Him.

Growing Our Faith

The bible is full of people who God drew closer to him by allowing them to experience a time of trial in their life. He did it with the entire nation of Israel countless times in the book of Judges. In Judges Israel regularly falls away from God. God would give them opportunity to repent and turn back to Him but when they did not He would allow an enemy to come against them and Israel would enter bondage. Israel would inevitably be drawn to God through their suffering, would call out to Him, and return to Him. And God was always there to welcome them home.

With Abraham God developed Abraham's faith through 25 years of Sarah's barrenness. With King David, after Samuel anointed him king, David fled King Saul for 11 years in the wilderness to draw him closer to God and prepare him. Daniel was thrown into the Lion's den. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were thrown into a furnace of fire. Jeremiah was imprisoned, as were most of the apostles. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 Paul lists his sufferings for Christ. In each of these cases God's men were tested by God. Why, you may ask, would God do this? God allows us to endure a time of testing to strengthen us and deepen our faith. He may even allow Satan to come against us as he did Job, but it is always to grow us in our faith in Him.

Loving Discipline

Have you ever prayed when things weren't going well in your life. When things are going bad it seems the first place we come to is God. Why would you let this happen Lord? I've cried out from my soul many times that very question. But when times are good, we often forget to give God the praise for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. When we drift away from God, God many times will allow us to endure a time of testing. God says He does this, because He loves us. It is called discipline.

Hebrews 12:5-11 explains, that like a child who sometimes misbehaves, we too leave the will of God sometimes, and He will take us to the woodshed. Discipline is not to punish us, but to correct behavior God knows is wrong in our life. To draw us back to Him. To have us seek His ways and lean upon Him. God's will for our lives is given to us in the bible, and if we are a child of God, but have left His will, He will discipline us to call us back to Him.

God's Goal

What God wants is for us to follow Him with all of our heart. Whether it's a test of our faith or God disciplining us, God is always seeking a closer relationship with us. Their is a picture and poem you may have seen, it's called "Footsteps." The message is that us and Christ are walking side by side, but then their is only one set of footprints. Jesus explains that this was the point in our life when He was carrying us, and our burdens.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Are you enduring a trial in your life right now? Understand God may be trying to draw you closer to Him. If you do not know Christ, He wants to save you. If you do know Christ He may be strengthening your faith or exercising loving discipline. Whatever the reason, He wants you to turn to Him. Will you answer His call?