ENCOURAGEMENT-02 (1 Peter 4:12)

FINDING ENCOURAGEMENT DURING THE TRIALS OF LIFE

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
that has come on you to test you, as though something
strange were happening to you.”
(1 Peter 4:12)

MEDITATION:
Has something bad ever happened to you
that caused you to think something like this:
    “What did I do? I must have done something
      terrible or otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.”

Then, before you knew it, did you fall headlong into a pity party
of morbid introspection…taking yourself apart piece by piece to
see where you went wrong? If you’re like most people you have
had an experience like this.

But have you ever thought that, maybe you’ve done absolutely
nothing wrong, and God is simply testing your faith? This is an
important truth to understand, because if we don’t understand
it, we may easily become discouraged when things happen to us
that ‘feels like’ punishment.

The seeds of doubt and discouragement sprout in the soil of the
‘uninformed’. If we fail to read God’s Word on a regular basis,
then we are ‘uninformed’. For example, the scriptures give us
encouragement when we face trials.
    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever
      you face trials of many kinds, because you know that
      the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
      (James 1:2-3)

We are told to consider trials as “pure joy”. Why in the world
would we find any joy in the midst of problems? If we re-read
James 1:2-3, we will see that joy can be found in knowing the
Lord is involved in our life, and His purpose is to increase our
faith to a new level of commitment, dedication, and perseverance.

When we consider the Lord’s involvement in our lives as an effort
to help us become all we can be as a child of His, it gives us a new,
and positive outlook on the trials of life, rather than fixating on
negative and unproductive thoughts which lead to discouragement.

When we are saved, the Lord begins a sanctification process
in our lives. It can include selected trials, as a way of adding
strength to our desire to please and serve Him, and reducing
our weakness and vulnerability to temptations.

Why would He do that? First and foremost, it is because He
has a great love for those who belong to Him. But it is also
because He wants to ‘set us apart’ for His purposes. How does
it make you feel to know that God has a purpose designed
especially for you? That’s something special, isn’t it?

Since He wants us to enjoy our fellowship with Him and the
blessings He has for us, we can be assured that when we are
busy fulfilling His (and not our) purpose for us, we know we
can ‘unlock’ new blessings, and grow even closer to the Lord
who saved us and will judge us at the end of our earthly life.

We may have these questions:
    “If God has a purpose for me,
      is it something tailored to my strengths?”
    “Will His purpose take me out of my comfort zone?”

Of course, only God knows the answers to those questions, but we
can be assured that, even if His purpose causes us to have uneasy
and uncomfortable feelings, He will give us what we need for being
successful in serving Him in the area He has prepared for us.

We need to remember that our salvation included two special
‘presents’ from the Lord. He gave us at least one spiritual gift
to be used in fulfilling His purpose for us, and, He gave us the
Holy Spirit to assist us in using that spiritual gift when we obey
His command to serve.
    But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been
    released from the law so that we serve in the new way of
    the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
    (Romans 7:6)

    For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,
    but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because
    anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and
    receives human approval.
    (Romans 14:17-18)

    I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear
    conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my
    prayers.
    (2 Timothy 1:3)

    How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the
    eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our
    consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve
    the living God!
    (Hebrews 9:14)

    Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over
    them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God
    wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve.
    (1 Peter 5:2)

    John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace
    to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from
    the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the
    faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings
    of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his
    blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and
    Father—to him be glory and power for, ever and ever! Amen.
    (Revelation 1:4-6)

It is important for every believer to discover their spiritual
gift, and to ask the Lord to show us how to actively use it.
Secondly, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to be an active
part of our lives, which includes helping us use our spiritual
gift. That means we need to create an environment that will
welcome Him into our life. It requires an intentional effort
on our part.

There are additional benefits of having the Holy Spirit in our lives.
He will also pray our prayers for us when we have a struggle with
expressing our heartfelt concerns to the Lord. As the Lord continues
to sanctify us, the Holy Spirit will assist us in transforming to God’s
righteous ways, while eliminating the unrighteousness in our lives.

When we realize our need for the Holy Spirit, we can keep all
things in perspective, and that helps us avoid having arrogant
pride, and trying to take credit for what God is doing through
us. The glory and praise belong to Him, and not us.

During the trials of life,
we should find encouragement in knowing:
    – We are important to the God of the universe.
    – God has a purpose for us.
    – God uses various ways to help us achieve His purpose.
    – God has equipped us for fulfilling His purpose.
    – God wants us to fellowship with Him.
    – God loves and blesses us.
    – God is sanctifying us daily (after He has saved us).
    – Sanctification is the process of helping us become
      more righteous, and developing characteristics
      similar to the One we are following, Jesus Christ.

ACTION:
Read Exodus 16 about the testing (and patience) of the Lord in the
lives of the Israelites while they were wandering in the desert. How
can God’s Word change your response to the trials of your life?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which assures me
that You love me and want to increase my faith by whatever means
You determine are best for me. Help me to realize that You are with
me on the mountaintops, but You are also with me in the valleys.
Help me to view trials in a more positive light, so that I can find
encouragement, rather than becoming discouraged and possibly
depressed. Teach me how to learn from my trials, so that I can
encourage others facing similar situations. Remind me that You
are the God who is my Heavenly Father and You care about me!”

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