Perseveres Through Trials In Faith

Perseveres Through Trials In Faith

A HERO’S TALE

The apostle Paul had a difficult life. We’re talking advanced-placement-chemistry difficult. His life included so many trials, you’d need a calculator to count them all.

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul lists some of the troubles he faced as a follower of Jesus:

• multiple imprisonments
• whipped 39 times on five separate occasions
• beaten with rods three times
• shipwrecked three times, including 24 hours of floating in the open sea
• many days without food or water

Later in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul also says God gave him a mysterious “thorn in my flesh . . . to torment me” (2 Corinthians 12:7). When Paul pleaded for God to remove it, God simply answered, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (12:9).

DECODING THE MESSAGE

This life is full of trouble. No doubt about that.

God never promised his children a trouble-free life. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. In John 16:33, Jesus promised his disciples, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.”

Sometimes, our troubles are our own fault (a lie you’ve told that makes matters worse). Other times, it’s someone else’s fault (a neighborhood bully) or simply life in a fallen, imperfect world (getting sick). And sometimes God allows us to go through trouble without explanation (the death of a loved one).

Whatever the trials are, the key is to persevere through them with faith in God. To “persevere” means to persist, or continue, despite difficulty or discouragement.

Paul knew that the secret to persevering through trials was trusting in the Lord. God is bigger than any problem, and he loves you. He won’t let the trial last forever. But he does want your trust.

God’s words to Paul are true for you, too: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Trials are meant to reveal our weakness and God’s strength and to build our faith in him.

BATTLE PLAN

Are you going through a rough time? Read James 1:2-4 and 1 Peter 1:6-7. Then put your faith into action by writing a thank-you note to God for the trial you’re facing and what he is teaching you.