Trials # 6

Trials # 6

Different Kinds of Trials

Some trials test us in one way and some in another.

Some test our COURAGE. satan sometimes tries to frighten us by making a great show of threatening. Sometimes he makes things look very dark. He whispers to us that we shall surely be overwhelmed. If we but have courage to meet these - then we shall be able to overcome them. Often we have but to face them boldly, in order to chase them off the ground and to stand victorious on the field of battle.

Other trials test our FAITH. When sickness or disease take hold of us - it is then that faith is tested. When the adversary tries to bring doubts in our minds about God's faithfulness or the truth of His Word, and the faithfulness of His people - then faith is the weapon that we need to use to overcome him.

There are trials that test our LOYALTY. We are brought face to face with the question whether we will be loyal to God and His truth - or whether we will take some seemingly easier way and compromise His truth for the sake of getting off easier ourselves. We are often put in a position where our loyalty is tested, where we have to stand by the truth without deviating from it in the slightest degree, no matter what comes.

Sometimes we must make a choice between Christ and our friends. The question is then one of loyalty. To whom we be true - Christ or our friends? To whom shall we submit ourselves, and whom shall we obey? He has said, "Be faithful unto death." Shall we do it? Shall we do it, no matter what it means nor how long a struggle it means? The battle is half won, when we fully decided to stand loyal whatever comes.

Battles of this sort may be decided before we enter into them, and then we have only the fighting to do. The result is certain. The old saying, "Well begun, is half done," is certainly true in the Christian life, especially when it comes to the matter of being decided to do the right and stand loyally by the truth whatever comes.

There are things that test our HUMILITY. There are plenty of people who for their own purposes, will flatter us and try to make us think that we are great people, or that we have done some great thing. They will praise us and flatter us for some selfish purpose. If we need what they say - then we may become puffed up over it, and come to esteem ourselves more highly than we ought.

If we do something that is praise-worthy - we very often find within ourselves a feeling of having done so well, that we become elated over it. This also is a test of our humility. Let us keep our heart humble, no matter how much God blesses us. No matter how much praise comes to us, no matter how many things are said in our favor - let us keep balanced, and let not our humility be turned into pride.

There are things that test our LOVE. Can we love God just as much after He has let us pass through a hard trial, as we did before? If our brethren do something to wound us - can we still love them? If people misunderstand us and attribute wrong motives to us - can we still love them? These are the test that count. These are the tests that test love. These are the things that prove whether it is genuine or not. If we are despised and persecuted, misrepresented and abused - can we still love? If people are our enemies, can we still love them?

There are trials that test our STEADFASTNESS - whether or not we will be patient and endure until God sees that it is enough, and takes us out of the fire. Other things test our patience. These are often very small things, and the smaller they are, the more they test our patience. Sometimes we need to keep a good hold upon ourselves and "let patience have her perfect work," that we may be "perfect and entire, lacking nothing." No matter in what way we are tested, if we have a will to be true, God will see to it that we have grace to trust Him, so that we may overcome and be " more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37).

~Charles Naylor~

(continued with # 7)