By Vijitha Mammen
A trial simply means a test. The trials to be mentioned here are the tests that God gives us to choose those who are suitable. Suitable for what? That’s quite simple, isn’t it? God gives us trials to choose those suitable for being called children of God, those suitable for entering God’s kingdom. God gives special grace for each trial we face: It was into such a tiresome, troublesome world that Jesus Christ came. The apostle John says that Jesus is full of grace and truth, and he supplies us with “grace for grace” (John 1:16). Years ago, Amy Carmichael shared some helpful insights about the phrase “grace for grace.” She wrote that the Greek word translated “for” literally means “instead of”. This can be illustrated by describing a river. Stand on the banks and observe the flowing water. After some time, is it the same stream still? Yes. But is it the same water? No, the old water has been displaced by new – “water instead of water”. The same is true of grace. God’s grace is inexhaustible. His grace is new each morning.
Spiritual growth occurs when faith is cultivated: The testing of your faith produces patience. – James 1:3 If we want to plant a lawn or garden, the soil must first be broken up. Even the most productive land must be tilled. Otherwise, growth is impossible. God sometimes prepares the human hearts to receive His Word by such a breaking-up process. It may be through a disaster like a flood, earthquake, hurricane, etc. At other times, it comes through sickness, disappointment, etc. If you have been through such experiences, God may be softening the soil of your life so that the seed of His Word can grow in you. Don’t fight it. One day you’ll thank Him for His soil preparation. Life’s challenges are designed not to break us, but to bend us toward God: It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. – Psalm 119:71
Have you ever heard about the “gator aid”? Well, according to a book that I have read, Gator Aid was training given to enlisted men in a Florida training camp during World War II. The daily training included a run through an obstacle course. On the final stretch of the endurance test, they had to grab a rope and swing across a broad shallow pool. The water looked so inviting under the blazing sun that most of the men developed a habit of making it only halfway across the pond – that is until an enterprising lieutenant made it the new home for a large alligator. From that day on, the recruits left the ground a good distance from the water’s edge and fell sprawling in the dust on the other side. Likewise, without God’s loving correction and faithful discipline we would never develop spiritual strength and endurance. Instead, we’d be overconfident. So, next time you undergo a trial, remember Psalm 119:71.
Christians can cope with their past because of their hope in the future. Nothing in the Bible promises us a free pass just because we are Christ’s followers. In fact, some of our wounds may not heal and some of our deficiencies may not be corrected during our lifetime. Yet all of our deformities and weaknesses are only temporary. Anticipating what God has in store for us can put a smile in our heart. If you have a living hope in Christ, you can cope with your past because of your future. God’s glorious best for you lies up ahead!
