The kind of Trials and Tests We Encounter are:
- Fiery trials: intense encounters or struggles; bursts of anger, grief or lust.
Ex: loss of jobs, family feus over property, helplessness, making scape goat,
- Infirmities: physical limitations and illnesses, sickness viz. TB, Cancer etc.
- Reproaches: Ridicule and rejection on account of faith or holiness. In the office we face opposition, rejection. In the society we face we are treated differently.
- Persecutions: Harassment and oppression due to religious convictions of our faith, our consecrated life, not taking part in puja, Vishwakarma celebrations etc.
- Necessities: Wear and tear due to daily responsibilities, liabilities, not able to meet the two ends.
- Distresses: Disappointments and deep hurts, family feuds, conflicts, failures in life, loss of loved ones.
- Tribulations: Unusual pressures and challenges. Facing challenges from society, Police, court cases, occupational hazards.
- Temptations: opportunities to yield to our sinful nature, covetousness, jealousy, lust, falling into traps etc.
Our Response Makes All the Difference, that how we face and have victory over these trials.
The Apostle Paul regarded these “tests” as opportunities to grow spiritually. Instead of despairing when he encountered trials, Paul said he would glory in his infirmities so that the power of Christ would rest upon him. (II Cor.12:9). When we also like Paul, choose to trust God and accept the grace that has given to us, Christ’s character will be formed in us. In (Rom.5:3–5) Paul says: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”
If we don’t accept God’s grace to deal with suffering, inevitably we will become bitter. However, if we choose to trust God to bring about His purposes through the suffering, we can avoid the trap of bitterness and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. (II Cor.5:7, Eph.4:31, Heb.12:14–15, II Pet.3:18.)
We can be confident that God will not allow anything to happen to us without His permission, and He will not let any “bad thing” happen to us. In (Ps.84:11b) the psalmist says: “No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless” Ultimately they will bring us more good than destruction. ( I Pet. 4:12–13, Rom.9:14–24).
How to overcome Trials and sufferings:
Trials and sufferings are obvious for every Christian who lives a godly life. Here are 5-points to over come trials and sufferings.
- Give thanks.
Sometimes being thankful in a difficult situation is the most difficult thing we can do. Yet, Scripture is very clear about this response: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning we” (I Thessalonians 5:18). To be thankful rather than to complain takes a conscious act of the will and a sacrifice of natural desires.
Unfortunately, most of us respond with murmuring or complaining when we face hardship of any kind—emotional, spiritual, mental, or physical. However, through trials, “it is God which worketh in we both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing, that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phili.2:13–15).
Ex: Job when he lost everything gave thanks to God.
Thanking God in all things does not mean that we thank God for evil. It means that we are thanking God for the benefits He intends for us when He allows things to happen.
- Rejoice in the Lord:
We have to rejoice in all things: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phili.4:4). Thanking God is an act of the will, but rejoicing is a response of the spirit. Therefore, it is possible to be sad and joyful at the same time. We cannot escape the pain of a difficult situation, but we can learn to rejoice in God Himself and in the good things God will do through our suffering.
Ex: Paul and Silas in prison.