How you can be pleasing to God even in the most difficult times. part 4

The title to this series is important because as Christians we know that we face difficult times. How do we know this? We have already faced many trials in the past and the future probably holds much the same for us; and secondly, the Bible tells us to expect tough times as a way of validating our faith and causing it to grow. So, how can we face even the most difficult circumstances and remain faithful to God?
First, it goes without saying that we need to be Christian. The only way a person can be faithful is to actually have faith.

Hebrews 11:6 (NASB95) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him

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It is faith in God that is the motivation for all we do. Our hearts cry out "Abba, Father" and that makes what we do acceptable to Him. Second, we need to understand that God brings difficult times into our lives to validate or test our faith. Third, we need to see each test as a way to propel us to greater faith. It is God's way of conforming us to the image of His Son, and knowing that we can count it all joy when we enter various trials. Fourth, when we find ourselves at a loss within a trial we have a God who is ready and willing to give us the wisdom we need to persevere through any trial. These four things were covered in the first three parts of this series.
There is one other thing that will help us get through the tough times. It will be easier to get through any trial when we keep our eyes on the outcome that God intends for us when we are faithful.

James 1:12 (NASB95) Blessed is a man who perseveres 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.

James wants us to know that the outcome of each trial, no matter how disturbing, is blessing. The trial has only one purpose in God's plan and that is to validate or approve the Child of God as one, who like His Son, has faith in Him. The outcome of that validation is the crown of life. Notice also that James gets back to the core of the motivation for a Christian. James writes that those who are approved and who receive the crown of life are those who love God. All we do in faith is done because we love Him and want to please Him. That is why it hurts so much when we fail in any particular trial. We feel it keenly and seek forgiveness as soon as possible.
Next time we will see why it is that we sometimes fail when facing a difficult trial.
Yours in Christ,
Jeff

How you can be pleasing to God even in the most difficult times. part 3

How can we be pleasing to God in the most difficult of times? First, we need to understand that there are active forces working against us and they were covered in the first part of this series. Secondly, we need to understand that God is at work to use trials in our lives to make us into the image of His Son. We need to understand that trials are not necessarily negative, even in the most troubling of times. They are all meant to further our deepest desire, which is to be more like Christ. James wrote these words concerning the purpose of the trials we face.  

James 1:2-4 (NASB95) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

We can face trials, considering it all joy, when we know the purpose behind them and the potential good they can bring if we go through them well. God has made certain promises to His children when they are facing tough times.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB95) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

The first promise is that no matter the circumstances we are not facing anything that countless others have not faced. We are not being singled out and given a trial that no one else has faced. We can also know that there are many others who have faced the same thing and come out the other side safe and sound and more like Jesus for it. The second promise is that whatever we go through, there is always a way through it maintaining our desire to be like Him and to hear the words, "well done my good and faithful servant." Please notice that the "way of escape" is not to get out of the trial, but to go through it well, to endure it. The trying circumstance is not really enjoyable in itself but its purpose is to give us our hearts desire which is to be more like Jesus so we can have joy through the pain and anguish of the experience. James writes that the testing of our faith produces endurance and that we should not try to escape prematurely from the trial, which is our first impulse, but to "let endurance have its perfect result."

What happens if, when facing a trial, we cannot see the way through, when we don't know what to do while we endure the time of trial? James writes that we should ask God for wisdom.
James 1:5-8 (NASB95) 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. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

If one of His children ask Him for wisdom in getting through the trial God will certainly give it in abundance. There is only one caveat to asking God for wisdom in moving through the trial well. We must ask in faith. That simply means that we ask believing. Believing what? We need to believe that the trial is being used by God to bring about His plan and our ultimate desire. We need to want to go through the trial well. If part of us wants to bail out of the trial or act in a sinful way through the trial we are obviously not one in our desire. James writes that such a man is double minded and unstable in all his ways.

Beloved, we need to be resolute in these two things. One, God is at work in us to both will and do His good pleasure. Two, Our desire is the same as God's is for us, namely to become more like Jesus. If we hold fast to these two things and we ask God for wisdom in the midst of a trial we can be assured that He will provide.

Until next time, Yours in Christ
Jeff