When outward circumstances such as conflicts, sufferings, or troubles surround you threatening to rob you of your peace of mind, what do you do? Do you succumb to the uneasy and uncomfortable situation? Do you stand up to it in anger or defiance? Can you even identify in comprehensive terms what the trial is, and what is happening to you because of it?
We are tempted to focus on ‘self’ in every trial. It’s human nature. Why me? Why is this happening to me? Why is God allowing this in my life? Don’t I have enough on my plate already? I don’t need this stuff now. Do you see it? Me. Me. My. I. I. They all point to ‘self.’
What would happen if we looked at trials as opportunities? I don’t mean a negative time to grumble or complain, or a moment to despair in complete hopelessness. I am talking about a positive response. “How can I turn bleak into hopeful?” “How can I rise above this situation?”
You could seek the counsel of a wise man named James who once said, “Don’t squander your trial.” You soon realize James didn’t just mention a catchy phrase without offering a few positive, practical and pertinent suggestions.
James says, “Move past ‘Why me?’ to ask ‘what will I do now?'”
James’ first wise counsel, if you haven’t done so already, is, “To humble yourself and get on speaking terms with God. Ask Him to help you in your trial. What would He have you to do?”
You may be surprised by His reply ~
“Count it all joy when you encounter various trials,” James began.
“Why?” you ask.
“Because the testing of your faith produces patience. Stand fast under pressure. Turn adversity into opportunity. There are many reasons ‘why’,” he replies.
“Then what?” you ask.
James is quick to answer. “Keep on keeping on in faith. Look for opportunities trials bring to grow us in our faith which produces patience, so that we are made complete.”
You nod.
James continues. “Gain insight on how to learn from the difficulties, and this takes practice – that’s why we have so many trials. It’s not trying to avoid trials at all costs.”
“No? What is it then?” you ask
“It’s seeing a new perspective on trials…”
“Let me see if I have this right,” you interrupt. “I’m not suppose to squander my trial, and I do this by moving past myself to humbling myself before God in order to seek His answer to my troubles, and how I should handle them from His perspective?”
“Basically,” James says, with a nod.
“I see,” you mumble.
James is undaunted. “Trials and tests happen all day. We can choose God’s way of responding, so we can rejoice in our troubles or, we can go the worldly way and grumble and complain about it.”
“So what, then, is your conclusion?” you ask.
James smiles. “Enduring trials leads to a crown of life. In the midst of a trial, we need to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”
“Okay. I think I’ve got it. Thanks for talking with me about trials,” you say.
James grins. “I think our conversation is a subject for a blog.”
“You mean this whole conversation is going to appear in somebody’s blog?” you ask, incredulously.
“Probably,” James shrugs.