Trials and Tests

Today we start with a poem attributed to Mary Stevenson (Born 11/8/22 Died 1/6/99):

One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed You most,
You have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
Is when I carried you."

This very famous poem goes to show that even when we think that we have been forsaken, the Lord is there to take our burdens and cares. Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” I Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you”.
We all have trials, we all have problems and we all have difficult times in our lives. How come some people seem to endure trials while others faint and get discourage by them? The difference is in how we face them. If we have faith in God and His Word it is much easier to go through tests and trials or to face our problems. How can we have faith? By reading the Word, by hearing the Word and by keeping it in our hearts. The reading and memorization of the scriptures increases our faith. Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.
Also, we have to remember that our trials and problems are not necessarily bad for us, but actually are part of God’s plan to teach us and mold us to be the kind of person He wants us to be. I Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”.
The Bible encourages us to rejoice to be happy for our trials: I Peter 4:12-13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy”.
Sometimes we even have trials and problems that do not exist. At least they do not exist yet. Like our fears about the future. So many people mortgage their lives by suffering today to prevent what may come tomorrow. There is wisdom in preparing for the future, in planning and saving for tomorrow. But when it becomes a phobia, an obsession that makes our present become unbearable and damages our health, or makes our relationship with others become hard and unloving, then it is not God’s will. Jesus said: Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”.
Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings”.
Times of trials and tests are times to get closer to the Lord. We should take our refuge in God's Word. Read more, pray more and seek the Lord with all our heart. The Word of God will bring healing and strength and He promised that he would not give us more than we can bear. (I Corinthians 10:13).