If you read the post I wrote at the beginning of the summer,
you know what I’m saying when I talk about utter chaos ensuing in my life over
the past year, and the ways that I have been able to see the Lord’s hand at
work in those situations. Well, this
summer, he didn’t let up. More trials,
more lessons, and more questions.
After hearing about some substantially surprising and
upsetting news on one of my 2-4s, (the 24 hours we get off from camp a week) I
asked my dear friend Jen Ford to share a meal with me so that I could process
through some things with her. She’s a
phenomenal question-asker, and one of the most proactive initiators I’ve ever
met. She recognizes needs, and moves to
take action. As I sat with her, I sobbed
about how unfair it all seemed… that I would be facing yet another trial. “Its just one
thing after another,” I cried, “how much am I going to have to give?” She looked me square in the eye, and with her
sage wisdom, knowing exactly what I needed to hear, she replied with a smile,
and said, “everything.”
That was definitely not something I wanted to hear in that
moment, but those words will never escape me.
Everything.
What does it look like to live with everything surrendered to the Lord? I think this is the very lesson I have been
learning this year.
When I think about someone who lost everything, my thoughts
fall on Job. Job was a blameless and
righteous man, and he experienced many worldly blessings because of it. Yet, when he lost everything, he continued to
bless the name of the Lord.
Now, I
haven’t lost anywhere near as much as Job- he literally lost everything in his
life in a matter of minutes. All of his
wealth, all of his family, and his good health.
Gone. And yet, he blessed the
name of the Lord.
It’s
incredible how little I recognize God’s hand in my life when I face
trials. Honestly, my thoughts turn more
often than not to, “God, why?” “Where are you?” “Don’t you care for me?”
But it’s
important that we look at the context of these so-called ‘trials’ in our
lives.
Scripture
says in James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of
various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness
have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing.” James later goes on in verses
12-15 to say, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when
he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised
to those who love him. Let no one say
when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with
evil, and he himself tempts no one. But
each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth
to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
1
Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to
man. God is faithful, and he will not
let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also
provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
It’s important that we recognize the difference between
temptation and trials. By definition, a
temptation is a desire for something wrong or unwise. God will never give us a desire for something
that contradicts his word or his will.
Temptation is not of God, but of our sinful nature that desires sin over
righteousness. And when we are tempted,
we need to understand that we are not alone, because no temptation is new to
mankind. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Soapbox moment: There is power in vulnerability. Share with trusted brothers and sisters in
the faith what it is you are being tempted by, because chances are they have
been tempted by the same thing at one point or another, and they may be able to
see what the promised “way of escape” might be better than you can. Don’t hide your sin in darkness. Trials on the other hand are defined as a
test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something. So, when it says in James, “Blessed is the
man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will
receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him,” we
see that God does allow us to face
trials in order to test our faith… why? To show steadfastness... to show the
qualities of our character... to show off the way that the Lord transforms the
lives of those who love him. He allows
us to face trials for one reason- to glorify his name, just as Job does when he
looses everything.
I think one of the most fascinating parts of the book of Job
comes in chapter 1 verse 7.
“The Lord said to Satan, “From
where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro
on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan,
“Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth,
a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Did you
catch that? God suggests to Satan that he consider Job. He’s putting his trophy on
display- showing off exactly how much Job loves Him. God confidently chooses to allow Satan to
test Job, knowing that in the end, He will be glorified. God chose to win an open victory though his
servant Job.
And when
calamity strikes, how does Job respond?
He falls to his knees, and he Worships His maker.
When we
face trials and calamities in our lives, how do we choose to respond? I don’t know about you, but my first response
usually isn’t to worship God.
But from
the moment He created us, God has been seeking one thing- true worshipers; and
true worship is shown in the times when it is hardest to express. So rather than questioning him, and wondering
why on earth God would allow us to go through these times, let us express the true steadfastness the Lord
desires from us, that our faith may have its full effect, that we may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
All this
to say, when calamity strikes, and all of a sudden we find ourselves wallowing
in our own self pity- wondering where God is, rather than dwelling in our doom,
we should rejoice in the goodness of our God.
Our knees should hit the ground so fast and so hard we should all be
walking around with bloody knees.
Let’s allow
God to claim victory over Satan by the ways that we react when he attacks.
“So to
keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the
revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass
me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord
about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace
is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I
will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.” -2
Corinthians 12:7-10
No comments:
Post a Comment