God is Trustworthy – Trust Him in Trials

When the trials of life are overwhelming, remember that God is trustworthy. You can trust Him in the trials. Do you have trials that keep knocking you down? Mornings when you don’t think you have the strength to get up? Do you wonder why life’s trials are necessary?

What Perseverance Looks Like

The trials of life remind me of toddlers when they start to walk. How do they get back up time and time again after so many failed attempts, not to mention the bumps and bruises they suffer? Once, at church camp, our fifteen-month-old, unsteady on her feet, tried to walk everywhere. One time, she tottled towards the bottom steps of the stage. Before I could reach her, she took a hard fall. She had hit her mouth and bumped her head. Her eyes grew wide. She opened her mouth to cry, but no sound was heard. Then the wail, the tears, and the blood came gushing forth. Our little one reached up to me, and I just held her. Then, after lots of hugs and a visit to the camp nurse, our little one was off laughing and tottling all over again.

I was amazed at her resilience. Even after this painful accident, she still joyfully persevered and continued to hone her ability to walk without fear! And despite the dangers, I allowed her to continue. I knew she would never walk if she didn’t strengthen those little legs and learn to balance by trial and error. She knew I would always be there to hold her and wipe her tears. Was it her trust in me that gave her the confidence to keep trying?

Fear of Failure

If only as an adult, I could be that resilient. Yet, more often than not the bumps and bruises from failed attempts make me want to quit.  I’m left tired and discouraged, definitely not eager to get up and try again like my toddler. However, my trust in the Lord gives me the confidence to keep going or to rise up and try again.

My Trial

In the midst of my trials, I know God is trustworthy. Just like a toddler learns to walk through their trials, I know there are lessons for me to learn as I walk through mine because God’s instruction is perfect (Psalm 19:7). I also know God will always be there to hold me when I fall.  He’s never failed me, even during the biggest trial in my life, dealing with my mom’s schizophrenia.  I’ve lost my temper with her, I’ve lost patience with her, and at times I’ve just lost it, crying because I didn’t know what else to do. Those were the times I felt the Lord comfort me. The times I would get back up and try again because I knew I could trust Him to never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8).

What I’ve Learned

Through it all I’ve learned that although we live in a fallen world, my God is trustworthy. He has picked me up time and time again. He’s dried my tears through the hurt and frustration. He’s also sent me encouragement when I’ve needed it the most.  I’ve learned that I’m stronger than I think and boundaries are important. I’ve learned how to love people despite their mental illness or attitude toward me. I have also learned how to share my experiences with others and encourage them. These are things I would have never known if I had not experienced this difficult trial. Don’t get me wrong, there have been days, even weeks when I just wanted to give up. Why give up? I am afraid of failing yet again. However, the Bible tells me my attitude should be quite different.

How to Face Trials

Have you ever noticed a little one wobble, fall down and then giggle before getting back up to try again? That’s what I think of when I read James 1:2 which tells us that we should consider it a great joy whenever we experience various trials. This seems unrealistic until we read verses 3 and 4.  James tells us why we should consider it joy. It’s because we know that the testing of our faith through trials produces endurance, and endurance must do its complete work, so that we may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. In addition, Romans 5:3-4 tells us again to rejoice in our afflictions because they produce endurance, which produces proven character,  then produces hope. Trials are also one way God tests us and refines us like silver (Psalm 66:10). Ultimately, the results of our trials bring praise, glory, and honor to Christ (1 Peter 1:7).

What it Doesn’t Mean

Having joy during trials doesn’t mean you are always smiling and happy. Let’s face it, there are periods during our trials when we are devastated, sad, or downright angry. Having joy, to me, means not allowing those feelings to rule my life. It means handing the situation over to God time and time again because I know He is trustworthy. I know that He has a plan and a purpose for my life (Jeremiah 29:11), and this is part of it. I also know He is with me each step of the way as He refines me (Psalm 16:8).

Trials are Necessary/God is Trustworthy

If parents didn’t allow their little one to fail over and over, the child would never refine their ability to walk. Each attempt at walking produces strength and endurance. Eventually, my daughter didn’t just learn to walk; she learned to run. That’s what God wants for us. He wants us to find joy in the process of completeness. Each trial sculpts us into who God wants us to be – The person who can accomplish the work he has for us (Ephesians 2:10). God is trustworthy. He doesn’t want us walking through life unsure. He actually wants us to run, knowing we are accomplishing His will. Then at the end of our life, we can echo 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Applications From My Trials

During each trial I face, I ask Him, “Lord what do you want me to learn?” Then I wait expectantly to see how He will use my experience once I’m on the other side of my trial. I can confidently say that each trial I’ve been through has tested and strengthened my faith. Each time I learn to trust God a little bit more. Some of my trials have given me a testimony I can share to comfort others. It’s a blessing to be able to tell someone, “I understand. I’ve been through it.” Then I share with them how God has helped me through the trial, or I just listen. Ultimately, I can trust that God is using each situation “…for the good of those (me) who love God: those called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Your Trials

How do you handle your trials? Do you consider them all joy, knowing they will produce endurance and completion in you for God’s purpose? As Christians, we must remember our life is not our own. The trials we endure may be to help someone else in their walk with Christ. Also, we must remember we are not the only ones who have suffered. 1 Peter 2:21-23 tells us that Christ knows what it is like to suffer. Christ trusted God in His suffering (v23), and we can, too. Each time we fall down all we have to do is reach up to Father God, and He will hold us and encourage us. He is trustworthy. Trust Him in the midst of your trials.

Challenge

Think back to some of your most difficult trials. What knowledge did you gain? Did it improve upon a character trait such as perseverance, or a deeper trust in God? How did it change you for the better? How have you been able to use your trial to comfort someone else?   

Share with me in the comments below how you have found joy in your trials by trusting God.                

Know that God is Trustworthy.