Based on “Stand Firm and Stand United” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 7/24-25/10
Message #6056; Daily Devotional #3 - “Circumstances - Trials”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Be careful how you interpret circumstances or trials. How often it seems that when we step out to follow God, things go wrong. Naturally we step back and assess the situation, but sometimes we might say, "Well I guess God was not in that, otherwise it would all have gone smoothly." Or if things go well we might say, "It must be God's will because everything is going so smooth." Have you said those words? I have. Sometimes when things went wrong I was wrong about what God was saying, but more often I was right, and it just did not go smoothly. I have also had things go very smoothly that were in no way God's will.
When things get rough, what is your first response?
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Paul's life gives us a great example to follow. Did things go smoothly for Paul? Sometimes, but more often it seems he faced opposition when he was following the will of the Lord. Many people on TV will tell you if you have enough faith you will not have to go through trials. Yet they must not be reading the same Bible I am, because Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Paul did not let trials get him down or allow them to cause him to doubt God. There were times when he struggled because he was pushing in where God had not directed him (Acts 16:6-7). God even warned Paul that if he continued to Jerusalem he would be bound (Acts 21:11). Yet as we read in Philippians 1, Paul took it all and went forward with joy.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): What should be the outcome of any trial you go through? It should draw you into a closer relationship with your great God. No matter what the trial, Christ followers have a God who wants to take us through. He will provide all we need. Whether it is faith, strength, hope, or even endurance and patience, God will always give us what He knows we need. Now it might be different than what we think we need. Remember, through the trial God sees the entire picture. He also understands our pain. He has been there. While Jesus walked the earth he felt the pain of our trials, our mourning (John 11:34-36), even physical pain (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus knows exactly what we need. A deeper relationship with Him is the most important thing, and it can get lost in the middle of the circumstance. When we are following God and trials come our way, the only thing we can do is look to Him. If we could do it on our own, why would we need God? When we are dependent on Him we WILL see Him work. So this week when things get tough, lean back on Jesus and spend a little extra time with Him instead of trying to figure it out on your own. Then the relationship will continue to grow into eternity, long and far away from our temporary trials of today.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 2 Corinthians 11:22-28; Matthew 6:25-34; Isaiah 53
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All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.