Recently, Addie Zierman wrote an article on“Five Churchy Phrases that are Scaring Off Millenials.” This age group currently in their 20's objects to statements that appear insincere or dishonest. One of the statements that doesn’t pass the “sniff test” with them is the statement that they sometimes hear in church,” God will never give you more than you can handle.” They have experienced times when it seems trials are too much to bear.
There are times that trials come in heavy waves. We sometimes feel like we’re trying to hold our ground during a hurricane.
Does the Bible ever promise that God will not give us more than we can bear? Perhaps this statement assumes that the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 applies to trials, limiting them to a level that fits within our expectations. “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.” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Frankly, there are times that trials nearly overwhelm us. In our lives the past two years have included our son-in-law’s cancer diagnosis, a bicep tear and surgery, a robbery, and numerous other difficulties. We have struggled with the progression of Parkinson’s disease requiring Kim’s dad to be in full time medical care for the past eight months. Just last week her dad’s struggle ended and he is now with his heavenly Father.
Trial upon trial. We learned a long time ago never to tell the Lord that you have reached the end of your endurance. Such statements do not guarantee that the time of testing has been completed.
When we think “God wouldn’t give us any more,” se must remember two important truths. The first is that other Christians have had to endure much more sever trials. The second is that we have NO WAY OF KNOWING if another GREATER trials is looming tomorrow!
There are WORDS we DON’t WANT to HEAR
Cancer
Death
Bankruptcy
Singleness
Divorce
Fired
Failed
Rejected
Will God allow you to have more TRIALS than you can bear??
We KNOW that God has promised to sustain us, but
we don’t know how much trial will enter our lives.
TRIALS come upon us to REVEAL what is in our hearts.
“Trials” = “These are testings in the active sense of experiences that prove a person’s intentions” Kurt A. Richardson, James, vol. 36, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 59
In our study thus far we have observed that the theme of James = “Keep the Faith”
This theme is more than a consolation for Christians experiencing hardships.
It is a reminder to STAY FAITHFUL when trials come.
HOW do we KEEP The FAITH when TRIALS COME?
1. View Trials as God Intended Them.
a. James encouraged them to embrace their trials not for what they were but for what God could accomplish through them Kurt A. Richardson, James, vol. 36, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997), 58.
b. This is what allows us to “Consider it Joy? Note that James write “All joy.” Trials “should produce joy that is full or unmixed, not just “some joy” coupled with much grief.” J. Ronald Blue, “James,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 820. \
c. Illus - 3 year old Trevor was having fun using the icing bag to decorate a cake for his parents anniversary. His mother asked him what the squiggles were that he was writing. “I’m writing Happy Adversity on your cake momma!” (David McCasland, Our Daily Bread, 3/4/04)
2. Trials are the Path to a Stronger Faith
a. J B Phillips Translation, “Don’t resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends.”
b. Trials are only friends if our goal is to be like Jesus. If our goal is to avoid difficulties or mishaps, our trials will seem more like intruders. (Our Daily Bread)
c. “When a man is tested, it is his readiness to commit himself wholly to God which is on trial” TDNT Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, eds., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 25.
d. Key passages:
i. Romans 5:2–5 (ESV) — 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
ii. 1 Peter 1:6–7 (ESV) — 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - NOTE: “various trials” is the same two Greek words that James uses in James 1:2. -
iii. 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” - Here, “trial” is the word perismos. The same word used in James 1:2
3. Recognize that Trials come in Many Varieties
a. “Trials of Various kinds” (ESV)
b. When used in the LXX word = “colourful, multicoloured, variegated, spotted, and speckled sheep (Gn 30,39), red, brown and white horses (Zech 1:8), and embroidered, beautiful clothes. Johan Lust, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie, A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition (Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart, 2003).
c. Trials can be:
i. Discipline
ii. Persecution. Illustration:At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith. Vance Havner.
iii. Life in a fallen world
iv. Personal struggles
4. Trials make us Complete in Christ
a. “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4, ESV)
b. “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13, ESV)
c. “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valley.” (Billy Grahm, “Life Wisdom from Billy Grahm,” 147)
When you are experiencing trials.
Remember the following.
a. God has not abandoned me!
i. “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:8–11, ESV)
ii. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5, ESV)
b. God is working all things for my good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)
c. Is there a sin I must confess?
d. Is there a lesson I must learn?
i. Illus - Trials are like dark times. We can’t see our destination. We need a light. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Headlights do not shine all the way to the destination, but that doesn’t keep us from getting in the car are taking a trip down a dark road. Headlights illuminate about 150 feet ahead. But we keep going.
e. Is there someone watching? The proof of your faith is visible to three people: God, Yourself and the World
So, “Count it ALL Joy”
God is TESTING you, not to cause you to fail but to make you complete in Christ
Trials are a necessary part of serving God.
Illus - The US Army demands that equipment is ready for the battlefield.
One computer company that designs printers for the Army TESTS every printer before shipping it.Each printer is FROZEN, then HEATED to 130ยบ F, and then VIOLENTLY SHAKEN for 15 minutes like a can of paint. Only then is it ready for the battlefield.
APPLICATION:
Thank God today for the trials in your life
“Count it all Joy”
Commit to Keep the Faith through the trials you are experiencing.
