Adversity - the refining fire.
Did you ever wonder why we have to put up with so much pain and suffering in this life? I can remember several times in my life when things looked so glum that they just had to get better. But the Bible is clear regarding adversity, trials, and tribulation: We Shall Have It!
Jesus said “In the world you shall have tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome the world.” Paul said, “Who can separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long. We are thought of as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 ISV
“Just come to Jesus Christ and everything will be ALL RIGHT.” has been the message many well meaning evangelists have told us. But the message Jesus gave us was “You are blessed even when men persecute you.” Peter said “On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns. You have never seen Jesus, and you don’t see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy you are to be saved. That’s why you have faith.” 1 Peter 1:6-9 CEV
One of the reasons we have such adversity is so that we will learn how to resist. We learn how to engage in warfare by engaging in warfare. There is a principle found in Judges 3 which I believe carries through to our spiritual battle: “And the LORD had another reason for letting these enemies stay. The Israelites needed to learn how to fight in war, just as their ancestors had done. Each new generation would have to learn by fighting the Philistines and their five rulers, as well as the Canaanites, the Sidonians, … Moses had told the Israelites what the LORD had commanded them to do, and now the LORD was using these nations to find out if Israel would obey.” Judges 3:1-4 CEV.
So faith is increased through our adversity; we learn to do battle (I am talking about spiritual battle in this context here, although it is just as true in the physical realm - just ask any soldier who has been through one or more battles.); also our hope grows. Romans 5 says it best: “But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:3-5 CEV
So if you are a Christian and you are going through trials, just rejoice, and trust God’s infinite wisdom. You will be strengthened for the next trial may be even more difficult than the one before and you will need that strength. It will get better - eventually!
