Why Trials Come Series

Perseverance is the ability to shake it off and step up when a load of trials are dumped on you. God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it. Why is it that so many people don’t “remain under” the trials that they face? MacDonald surveyed 100 people to find out what they wanted to do instead of hanging in there. Here are the top four answers:

* “I want to complain.” We’re going to let people know how we feel about our frustrations.

* “I want to lash out.” Unfortunately, we often take it out on the people closest to us.

* “I want to bail.” This isn’t what I signed up for when I got married. That’s not why I became a mom or a dad.

* “Take me out.” I’d rather be dead than go through this.

I’m sure you’ve heard the joke about someone saying that they want patience and they want it right now! Actually, if you want to become more patient, then get ready for some problems to come your way. Amy Carmichael writes:

No wound? No scar?

Yes, as the Master shall the servant be,

And pierced are the feet that follow Me…

Can he have followed far

Who has no wound nor scar?

2. Trials lead to life transformation. Once we persevere, our trials can lead to transformation. We see this in verse 4: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The idea here is that perseverance brings us to the “intended end.” If we persevere under pressure we will become mature. The phrase “not lacking anything” means that all the necessary parts are present. If you and I want to be mature and finished, with no needs, then we must learn how to stay under our suffering. Only those who go through some messes will become mature. This is far from easy.

MacDonald writes: “If staying put was easy, if submitting to what God allows and giving up was simple…everyone would be doing it. The fact is, most Christians are going round and round with God about the very same things because they change scenery or marriage or job or church rather than remaining under the trial and letting God change them.”

John Eldredge tells the story of a Scottish discus thrower from the 19th century. He lived days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands. He made his own discus from the description he read in a book. What he didn’t know was that the competition discus was made of wood with an outer rim of iron. His discus was made of pure metal, four times heavier than the ones used by his would-be challengers. This committed Scotsman trained day after day, laboring under the burden of extra weight. He marked the record distance and kept working until he could throw that far. Of course, when he arrived at the competition, he was handed the official wooden discus. He threw it like a tea saucer. He set new records and for many years, none of his competitors could touch him.