Trials and Tribulations
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed ; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” ( Rom. 5:3-5)
I don’t know about you, but if someone ever told me they wished that they could have trial and tribulation in their life I would think that they had possibly gone off the deep end. Why would anyone ever wish to have such things in their life? Here in Romans, though, we are told we should “glory in tribulations”. Could it be that through the trials and tribulations that we experience we are able to grow to a new understanding of God? He will draw us near to Him and give us strength and wisdom. He will teach us to approach our problems with patience and understanding, knowing that the Holy Spirit is guiding us and helping us through these difficult times. We may feel hurt and rejected at times, as if we are bearing the burdens alone, but God wants us to trust fully in Him and let Him guide us through our troubles. He is our strength.
We get so caught up in the day to day activities of this world that we so often forget to stop and see where we are going and what is important. It is only through our problems that God can show us what is happening in our lives and what is important. God uses each one of us in a different way. It is through spending time with Him and growing in our faith that we can properly serve Him. Each one of us has our own special relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. No one else can understand our situation as He can, so He is the one we must turn to.
In the same way that God works in individuals, He also works in our nations. Our world is full of problems. There seems to be no end to the chaos facing our Israel nations today. We are wallowing in our sin. God is letting us go to the logical end of our decisions. He is handing us over to our sin to reap the consequences of our decisions. We are on a course of destruction. It is only through these trials and tribulations that we will eventually go to our knees. He wants us to turn back to Him. We must call on the name of Jesus Christ to help us.
It is only through our troubles that we will turn away from our worship of false idols. Today we live in a world that worships and serves materialism. There is no future here. History has shown that when nations become materially prosperous, they become morally bankrupt. Is this not us today? Are we not morally bankrupt? We are about to implode. “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” (Rev. 2:22)
It is through our trials and tribulations that God is helping us to see our sin. He is helping us to come back to Him. We find wisdom when we are on our knees. “Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”.
Although at times it may seem as if there is no end to our troubles, whether personal or national, we must remember that God is at work. He will never leave us or forsake us. If we call on Him, he will answer. What a comfort!
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
