Wednesday Afternoon

I just off the phone with one of my good friends. It was great to catch up with him and hear about what is going on in his life. As the conversation closed, we talked a little bit about going through trials.

Earlier today I was reading through MacArthur's commentary on James. James 1.2-10 says, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf on the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who preservers under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

That's kind of a long passage right there, but it's all great truth. MacArthur lists several great things about going through trials; they strengthen our faith, they humble us, wean us from depending on earthly things, call us to a heavenly hope, reveal what we love, teach us to value God's blessings, and they teach us to comfort others in trials. He also talked about how we should respond to trials; with a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a submissive will, a believing heart, and a humble spirit.

The last response was echoed by my friend when i was talking to him. He asked me how i was doing and wanted to hear how i was growing in the Lord through the trial. My friend is going through a trial, too, and he reminded me of the need to be humble. We are to be humble before the Lord in a trial, and be humble before others as we care for their needs above ours (Philippians 2). While life can seem hard, I have friends who have lost their jobs, friends who can't find jobs, friends who are struggling with disconentment, friends who are having trouble paying for school, friends whose parents are dying. We all don't necessarily understand what it is like to experience those things, but we all have experienced God's abundant grace in our own circumstances. God gives us the strength to endure trials, and He gives us the strength to love and care for others even in our trils. Its so easy to be selfcentered and selfish. Praise the Lord for his grace to perserve and for his grace to make us more like His loving Son.