“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”   Revelation 3:21

One day soon all of our troubles and trials will be over and we’ll be able to sit down beside Jesus and rest. Troubles and trials are our mile markers, so to speak, during our lives here on Earth. It’s good to know that God is with us every step of the journey and provides grace for every mile. God has a plan for each of our lives; and, as hard as it is to understand and especially accept, His plan for us does include troubles and trials. This verse from the last book of God’s Holy Written Word gives us the purpose of troubles and trials. The purpose of our problems is to empower us to be overcomers! How could we be overcomers if there were no obstacles to overcome? How would we know that God loves us unconditionally if all our conditions were met? How could we appreciate God’s grace being sufficient if we had no insufficiencies? These questions are answered with two crosses, the cross of Calvary and the cross of the Christian! Jesus’ death on the cross not only paid our sin debt off in full, but also guaranteed victory over death, hell and the grave for all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Jesus also provides the greatest example of how to overcome our troubles and trials: by submission to the Father! Troubles and trials can be rough on believers and often come to the most devout in faith with great tenacity. Remember, Jesus said we can do all things through Him and that must include overcoming our troubles and trials. The truth is, if we don’t overcome them, they will overcome us. We must fight the good fight of faith but never forget the battle is the Lord’s! Let’s all take up our crosses and be content with our losses and long for the rest area just ahead.

Winners never quit and quitters never win! Neither do overcomers opt out. God promises grace to overcome what’s coming. Now we do not know what’s coming. God does know. Actually, it’s better that we don’t know what the future holds. If we did, we’d probably give up before it got here. What we need to know, or rather who we need to know is God, for He is the one who holds tomorrow. The strength we need to do anything right, as well as light for the darkest night, must come from God through His Holy Spirit. Now is the time to get to know God better than ever. This will help sever our ties to this world and provide mountains of peace rising high above our valleys of problems and pain.

“Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”  Job 22:21

One of the key facts in the study of God is that God is sovereign. In other words, He is in charge! He rules over all and that’s mighty comforting when troubles and trials sneak up on us. The storms of life would sink our boat were it not for the ruler of the waves. The waves of trouble which worry us are in reality sent from a sovereign, loving, Heavenly Father to wash us closer to Him. No wonder God’s Word says we are to be thankful for all things. Jesus said if we love Him, we should do what He says. Let’s start by thanking God for our troubles and trials!

Thankfulness is the overflow of the overcomer’s heart. Troubles and trials provide the primary playing field on which Christians experience the goodness of God and the paradoxical promotion of the Holy Spirit.

We Are Made Richer By Our Losses.

This happens because we are enabled by our losses to sense the true value of spiritual life in Christ. Salvation is not purchased with money or material things, but by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. Peace may be hard to understand, but it’s even harder to purchase with a debit card.

Losses and disappointments are heartbreaking and nobody likes to have to deal with either. Nevertheless, the Lord promises to be with us all the time and His felt presence is emphasized emphatically when our heart is hurting.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”  Isaiah 57:15

It’s easy to have so much stuff that we don’t have any room for God. Our losses help us by giving us more time with our Creator. We’re made much richer when we lose something we could not keep and gain something we cannot lose.

Troubles And Trials Keep Us From Loving This World So Much.

Love is powerful! What we love affects everything we do. One has to be careful what he or she loves and constant monitoring is needed throughout life’s journey. The main one to love is God! To love God is our lot in life and is the number one commandment God gives us.

When God saved us by His grace, He gave us the capacity and ability to love Him. In other words, he loved us first so that we could love Him first, above all others. Every Christian desires to love God, and his only regret is that he doesn’t love Him more. The problem is that there is so much competition for our love and often from good things too. But nobody or nothing is as good as God. So, to love Him fully and fervently is how we put our affections in the right place.

One good example of how troubles and trials keep us from loving this world too much is that of sickness and health problems. When we’re flat on our backs, we look to our Lord and cherish His promises and the prayers of His people more than we would during healthy times. Troubles and trials are primary priority wrenches God often uses to adjust our attitudes and affections. He has good reasons for this as always!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  I John 2:15

The Happiest Times Are The Hardest Times.

If you tell a young couple trying to make a living and raise a family that they are going through their best times, most likely they would not believe you. But those of us who have been there and done that know for sure that it is the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but it always makes us free.

I believe the Lord Jesus Christ was happier when He was hanging and suffering on the cross of Calvary than He was at any time during His earthly ministry. I say this because He constantly reminded His disciples that His greatest desire was to do His Father’s will. Remember, His last words from His hardest place were, “Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.” Jesus also seemed to sense Hi pending happiness on the way to His crucifixion.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:2

Troubles and trials train us to depend on God and shakes the selfishness out of our lives. It’s no wonder that “Amazing Grace” is the all time favorite hymn of the redeemed. The paradox is that this hymn was born and bread in troubles and trials. A Christian should be right at home when troubles and trials come. Rabbits like briar patches — they are happier there than anywhere else. The next time you have to make a decision on what to do and you have several options, all offering what’s right, choose the hardest and you’ll be the happiest!

When Life Knocks You Down, Worship There.

The best place to worship God is right where you are. A truer, more genuine worshipper is found on a hospital bed than is found in a church pew. If there is anything that causes God to hide, it’s got to be pride. Troubles and trials have a way of reminding us just how weak we are, and how much nothingness we represent.

A believer bending over worships God best because troubles and trials cause him or her to lean in the right direction. And we all walk better, talk straighter, and stand taller when we’re on our knees than in any other position. A young husband and father recently told me that when things in his life settle down, he and his family were going to find a church. I told him the thing to do was find a church and then things would settle down.

Never wait for the right conditions to worship God. After all, God loves us unconditionally, so it makes no sense for us to let circumstances throw a curve to our contentment in the Almighty — no matter our circumstances.

These spiritual scenarios almost seem inhumane. That’s because they are. We have to remember as born again, new creations, we are spiritual beings. God makes sinners into saints, but He is going to get the glory for it all; so, He sends troubles and trials our way so that others will see and say, “These overcomers must have an overwhelming God.” This is the truth free and clear. This is our God, hold Him dear!

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”  Revelation 7:15

Brother Randy