Strength Through Our Trials

What do you do when you’re faced with disappointment, disaster, or despair? Scripture teaches us that,

“We know all things work together for good to them that love God” – Romans 8:28.

God shapes us through trials. Trials are an inevitable part of our lives as humans, we cannot escape them. They come in various forms and can shake us to our core.

However, in the middle of every trial, we have a faithful, loving God who invites us to lean on Him for strength, comfort, and guidance.

Trials expose our hearts, they remove the impurities from our lives -those things that keep us from bringing glory to God as we should. But there are things we need to understand about trials and our responses.

God doesn’t allow us to go through trials to trip us up, He designs them to strengthen and purify us. Job said, in 23:10, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

We sometimes have unbiblical perspectives when we experience trails and suffering. We can believe:

  • That they are always our fault
  • That they are always the other person’s fault. And can have z “victim” mentality.
  • They are no one’s fault. This is divine fate.
  • That they are God’s fault. He causes everything.
  • A deistic view -that God isn’t involved in it at all. This is a belief that God created everything, but now He just stands back and watches without getting involved.
  • God is sovereign and works all things to His plan and purpose, including trials and suffering
  • That they’re always for God’s glory and our eternal good, even though God may temporarily set aside our happiness to accomplish something greater

So, since God has allowed whatever we experience and it’s for our good, how should we respond,?

One thing I’ve learned through all the trials I’ve been in, it’s that we are accountable for our responses no matter how we feel. We respond in ways that please God, and no matter what our circumstances we reach our goal,

I long time ago I went to my pastor because I was going through one trial after another. It was becoming cumbersome. He gave me the best advice I could have gotten. He said, “Pray and ask God what He wants to teach you.” I found that being focused on God instead of the trial helps you grow and allows Him to guide you to the next step.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 says,

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well-pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each on may receive according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

It’s easy to justify wrong responses during a trial, God gives us grace to us when we respond rightly.

We should just pray to get through the trial by “hanging in there” and somehow get through our trials by suffering through it. We should ask God to help us grow in the middle of difficulty and become more like Jesus. James, 1:2-4 says for us to,

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.”

We may not always rejoice in the suffering, we may rejoice in the fact that a sovereign God can work through the trial.

I can look back and see how God had used other trials for my good, and how I’ve grown in faith and learned to trust Him, in spite of my trials, because of them. I bet you can too when you remember past trials.

Some of the why’s God allows trials

  • Because of unconfessed sin. 1 Corinthians 11:28-33 says,

“But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For he who eats in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

It’s important to take the Lord’s supper (communion) as a reminder of the importance of examining ourselves, self-examination is something we should do on a regular basis.

Because people fail to confess and turn away from their sins, they suffer many trials. God chastens us because He loves us. No Chastening is joyful for the present but painful, nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. James 15:2 says,

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit.“

We live in a failed world and trials encourage us to long for heaven.

Worried About The Future

What are you most worried about for the future?

“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:1).

I am not worried about the future because I trust God’s promises. While I know things will get tough, as long as I obey God everything will be okay.

Worry is neither insignificant nor inconsequential, it is absolutely inconsequential to faith.

How are Idols Connected to Demons

A connection between idols (false gods) and demons (evil spirits) is seen in Deuteronomy 32:16-17,

“They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations, they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers never dreaded.’

I read somewhere in Hebrew text there is something called Synonymous parallelism which involves the deposition in the second part of what has already been expressed in the first, while simply sharing the words. I think it is done here in the verse above demons and strange gods are the same. It connects pagan worship with evil spirits. The false gods are in contrast with the true God, the Rock in Deuteronomy 15;17.

There is another important connection in Leviticus 17:7,

“They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, After whom they have played the harlot.”

Here these demons are other gods were worshipped by surrounding cultures. Demons were equaled with pagan gods in this passage.

It is no coincidence that demonic activity is associated with religions that embrace a multitude of gods and goddesses. A desire to have contact with the “spirit world” often focuses people on supernatural power apart from the power God offerss through a relationship with Jesus and Holy Spirit.

Satan desires to be worshipped (Matthew 4:9), and demons teach false doctrine to deceive (1 Timothy 4;1). Those who worship false gods are, wittingly or unwittingly, pledging their attendance to evil spirits who desire to usurp God’s rightful place in our hearts.

Whatever we serve more than God is an idol. and an idol should be nothing. It would not have power over us. This is where satan and his demons have true power over us. The love of money, the love of alcohol, drugs, sex, the list goes on and on. (1 Corinthians 8:4; Mark 5:7-8).

What Makes A Teacher Great

What makes a teacher great?

A great teacher must have patience, empathy, adaptability, and have a continuous learning mindset, and the ability to connect with every student.

Every student has their own set of strengths and needs. Great teachers must have the ability to align with those strengths and needs.

Like students, teachers are constantly learning and growing. Keeping students involved in what they are learning is a big step. I also believe that teachers who involve the parents are important.

The “Oh I will drop my kid at school and forget about them” is not a great way that leads to a student succeeding. While I realize parents are very busy these days. Reaching out to parents in any way they can is important.

Students become successful when they know they have support from their parents and the schools.

Having A Strong Mind

We must have a strong mind if we are to overcome the obstacles we meet in everyday life. It takes more than talent or skill to lead a powerful life. Research indicates that intelligence accounts for only 30% of our achievement.

A strong mind that pushes through adversity is what is needed to live in today’s culture. It’s an inner quality that enables people to work hard and stick to their goals.

The good news is that a strong mind is not something we are born with. It is something that can be developed. There are characteristics that a strong mind possesses. They embody 4 elements:

1. Confidence

2. Persistence

3. Dedication

4. Control

How can we create a strong mind that is the trademark of those people who live large in a world full of possibilities?

Here are a few things I’ve been learning in my own life. I’m a work in progress.

1. Confidence. We have to work on confidence every day. When you improve a little each day eventually bigger things will come. Seek out small improvements, one day at a time, then when it happens it will last. Confidence in ourselves and our abilities will make us successful.

Confidence is a belief in yourself and your ability to meet your goals. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to different situations. Learn how to push through the uncomfortable. Once you have confidence in yourself, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.

I can sit in a room full of people talking and not say a word. I am completely comfortable with it. It’s how I was raised “To be seen and not heard.” But I know I have to push myself out of that comfort zone if I’m going to get anywhere in life.

2. Persistence. Every time I get knocked down I get back up. A strong mind isn’t built on something slapped together on a shallow foundation. It needs a solid rock. Like a tree, the higher you want it to go, the deeper you have to plant the roots.

Persistence is the tendency to see life obstacles as challenges to be met, rather than threats. Don’t whine or complain, or point fingers, or blame others for your predicament. Work on being the hero of your own life and choose your destiny.

3. Dedication. It’s important to proactively seek out learning opportunities and maintain a positive attitude when working towards a goal. Be a disciple of your own deep values and beliefs.

Strong-minded people have a dedication that comes from a purpose in alignment with their deepest values.

4. Control. A strong mind shuts out feelings of fear and inadequacy. And focuses on how to reach the goal. It’s important to control your emotions, thoughts, and behavior rather than trying to control other people.

I have found the best way to control your situation is to invest energy into it so that you will understand all the aspects of the situation. This allows you to pinpoint every part of the challenge. It’s important to throw out the preconceived ideas of what you can, and cannot do.

When you train yourself mentality to prepare for the worst and practice ahead of time to overcome it. Control is having a certainty that you are able to shape your destiny and not passively accepting events as fate.

Surgery

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

Have you ever had surgery? I have had many surgeries. But a few of them were down right scary. The first one I’ll tell you about is my cancer surgery. I had a grapefruit-size tumor in my bladder. It was the most painful surgery I’ve had, I have never smoked a day in my life. Up to 50% of people with bladder cancer have never smoked. It is caused by being around secondhand smoke.

Another one I’ve had was a tumor I had on the carotid artery in my neck. It was found when I was admitted to the hospital for extremely low potassium and sodium. It was the most terrifying because the doctors didn’t know how to remove it. One slip and I would have bled out. They ended up going through my neck from my mouth instead of cutting my neck.

The last one was back surgery. I suffered with back pain for 20 years with pain and numbness in my right leg.. I was given pain patches to relieve the pain. I finally went to a neurological surgeon on the advice of my cancer doctor and after an MRI he found a cyst sitting on my spine. It had to be removed before I caused any more nerve damage in my leg. Having the surgery like any back surgery I had a risk of being paralyzed. After the surgery, I was pain-free, with only minimal nerve damage to my right leg.

Things that have happened in my life make me think God is protecting me. If it were not for Him I know I would not be here.

God’s Saving Grace

The meaning of saving grace, in worldly terms means something positive will come out of an otherwise negative situation. But it goes so much deeper than that. God is so awe-inspiring, and His definition of saving grace is incredible.

Just the sound of the words saving grace gives me a warm fuzzy feeling like being wrapped up in my favorite blanket on a cold winter night. Maybe that’s because, after my troubled life, He became my saving grace. This saving grace brought moments to come up for air and catch my breath amid my pain and offered healing. So much hope came from those two words, especially when put together. Each word holds a significant meaning for each of us. When we place them together something beautiful emerges.

Behind these familiar and comforting words holds more than we truly know and fully understand. In secular circles, “saving grace is often shared to breathe a sigh of relief from a close call or a means of slapping a bandaid on a major problem, a quick fix.

But in essence, its saving grace is God’s divine intervention in bestowing His favor on undeserving sinners, offering salvation and reconciliation through faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us,

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.”

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible weaves a narrative of God’s relentless pursuit of His people, showcasing His unwavering love and mercy. The Old Testament anticipates the coming of a Savoir, while the New Testament reveals Jesus as the embodiment of God’s grace and the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.

The sovereignty of God’s grace is in the salvation of His people. His teachings center on the initiative in drawing people to Himself, enabling them to respond in faith.

Understanding God’s saving grace has immense implications for true believers. It humbles them to recognize that our salvation is solely due to God’s mercy rather than our own deeds. It fosters gratitude, prompting people to live lives that reflect God’s grace to others.

As we navigate through life’s trials, God’s saving grace serves as an anchor, offering hope and assurance amid uncertainty. It compels us to extend grace to others, mirroring the mercy and love we have received from God.

When we embrace God’s saving grace as truth, we embark on a journey of faith and continue to marvel at the depth of God’s grace which we can extend to a world in need.

Not In Your Strength

Exhaustion and frustration have a way of blowing away the fog, revealing what’s really happening inside of us. We discover where we really find our strength not when we feel strong, but when we feel weak.

Do you lean on God for all that you need, or have you made His help, His strength, and His guidance a kind of last resort? Many of us are more self-reliant than we would admit, and self-reliance is far more dangerous than it sounds.

A common delusion, is that we can do anything if we are willing to work hard. We are stronger than we think, strong enough to do anything we want to do in the world. The reality, however, is that the vast majority of us are weaker than we realize and yet love to think ourselves strong. And a false sense of strength not only intensive our arrogance and our ineffectiveness but it also offends God.

By nature, we are not trusting creatures. We are creatures of necessity. We trust God when we are forced to trust Him because our problems go beyond our abilities. The rest of the time, we get along just fine by ourselves. If we can solve the problem by ourselves, we don’t resort to prayer or trusting God because we don’t need to trust Him. It’s only when we come to the end of ourselves and cast ourselves in total dependence on God that we begin to experience genuine praise and thanksgiving.

Our delight is often in the strength of our legs -our work ethic, our perseverance, our cleverness, our strategies. And that temptation touches every part of our life because every part of life in a fallen world requires strength. But God is not pleased by all that we can do -unless we do all that we do in His strength and not our own.

We do rely on ourselves. We slip into habits of living, and working, that didn’t require Him, and sometimes barely even acknowledge Him.

Jeremiah 17:5 warning is sobering,

The Lord says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, relies on strength of flesh, and who’s heart departs from the Lord.”

The person who deep down trusts in himself cannot help but slowly walk away from God.

We fight self-sufficiently by glorifying all that God can do, and we fight by learning to embrace just how little we can do apart from Him. John 15:5 says “Whoever abides in Me and I in Him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Many can record this verse and yet still quietly suspect that He’s really exaggerating. We know we can do something on our own. And if we wint admit it, our prayer lives will betray us.

The humble are strong because they know how weak they truly are -and how strong Good will be for them. They say,

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” – Psalm 73:26.

The humble experience what Isaiah promised in Isaiah 40:29-31,

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who had no might he increases strength… They who wait for the Lotd shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings likes eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.“

By embracing their weakness, the find great reservoirs of strength, strength enough to run and then fly.

The Apostle Paul knew how weak he was and where to find true strength. When he was pleaded with God to remove the thorn in his flesh that plagued him, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Why would God, in infinite, fatherly love for Paul, not share him the pain and inconvenience of this weakness? Because our weakness welcomes the gracious strength and intervention of God.

Weakness welcomes grace. When we feel strong, we are not prone to rely on the grace and strength of God. We begin to experience, and even enjoy the delusion that we are strong. We forget God and our need for Him. But when we feel our weakness, we more fully experience reality and we remember our tremendous, continual need for Him. The intensity of our pain (or thorn in our flesh) unearths the depths of His grace and mercy. Without them, we would only play in the wading pool of grace, instead of exploring the endless storehouses God filled and kept for us.

God alone makes peace (Psalm 147:14). We cannot achieve real peace in families or friendships, in a church, or a nation, unless God quiets the conflict and awakes harmony. If we think we can achieve peace without God, we do not understand peace, or God.

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power, His understanding is beyond measure“ – Psalm 147:5

Our power is small and often failing, but His power is abundant and never exhausted. Our understanding is extremely limited and often flawed, but His understanding is universal ns inevitable. Why would we ever rely on ourselves?

We often learn to rely on our own strength because we want the recognition and respect of others. We want to become known as strong, not weak. As independent not dependent. As self-sufficient not needy. We want to be the achievers and creators, the healers and the heroes.

If we think of ourselves or others as achievers, creators, reformers, innovators, movers, and shakes, healed, educators, and benefactors of society in any way at all, we are at the deepest level of kidding ourselves. We have nothing and never had anything that we gave not received, nor have we done anything good apart from God who did it through us.

J.I. Packer

The happiest, strongest, most meaningful productive have embraced, and rejoiced, in that reality. We have done nothing good apart from God who did it through us.

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage” – Psalm 84:5

Some Daily Habits

What are your daily habits?

Wake up and make some Coffee, pray, read my Bible, and write some posts. take a shower, eat breakfast., and then it’s either go to a prayer meeting or Bible study if that’s not happening I go to a friend’s house for coffee. Come home make a light lunch, do some house hold chores. I used to take my dog out for a walk or to play in the yard, but she recently passed away, so I read or listen to podcasts and then start supper and get it on the table for the dishes and clean up, I am interested in criminal psychology so I watch a few law interrogation shows. Get ready for bed and usually sleep about 3-5 hours and start my day over again,

Basically, it’s the workings of a pretty boring day. But that’s the life of me.