Hope in Affliction (2 Cor. 4:7-12)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.
(2 Corinthians 4:7-12, NASB)

Adversity isn’t a new concept to us Christians. Paul experienced more trial and tribulation than most of us ever will. Beatings. Shipwrecks. Imprisonment. Yet he was able to look at those adversities as part of his refining process.

He wasn’t crushed or despairing or forsaken or destroyed ... How could that be?

I don’t know about you, but I’m not certain I could have as positive an outlook as he did. When I’m feeling particularly unwell, I sometimes despair, wondering if I’ve fallen to a new plateau. And to be honest? Every once in a while—not often, but sometimes—I feel forsaken.

But then I have to remember that God has a purpose for adversity. Just as iron sharpens iron and the fire purifies gold, difficult times make us stronger. They make us more reliant on God. They make us seek His truth.

If we keep our eyes on God, if we understand the purpose behind affliction, then we can withstand being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. We can, in fact, trust Him to use the difficult times to refine us and to glorify Himself.

Enduring Temptation and Trial (1 Cor. 10:11-13)

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 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.
(1 Corinthians 10:11-13, NASB)

Sometimes I reread a verse I’ve read many times before, and I’m struck again by how God blesses His children.

Many Christ-followers are familiar with verse 13: 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. And it gives me both peace and confidence.

Peace because I know God is faithful in all things, even in times of temptation or trial.

I do have to make a clarification here: I used to work with a woman who insisted that temptation meant exactly that and those who paraphrased the verse as “God will not allow you to experience trials beyond what you are able to bear” were wrong. However, when you look at the word “tempted” and cross-reference with at least one other reference using the root word (see 2 Peter 2:9), you find it does also mean trial. The Amplified Bible helps clarify even further:

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

And so, I can be confident that not only will God not give me anything more than I can endure, but He’ll also give me the strength to endure it.

Trials will come. Since the fall in the garden, they’re just a part of life. But we can be confident that our faithful God will see us through.

Praise Him!

More Precious Than Gold (1 Peter 1:6-9)

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:6-9, NASB)

I find it very interesting that some followers of Christ are surprised when trials come. Somehow they think that becoming a Christian means rainbows, cotton candy, and puppy dogs.

Apparently, they haven’t read their Bible.

I’ve written before about being refined as gold, and I love today’s scripture. Not the being “distressed by various trials” part. Frankly, I’d rather avoid trials. Suffering isn’t on my top ten favorite things to do. If God chose to grow me and mature my faith in any other way, I’d say, “Bring it on.”

But that’s not how God works. He knows we’re fickle and frail and fleshly. He knows we (or maybe it’s just me?) tend to be self-sufficient when the skies are clear and the waves calm. It’s when the storms hit—when we face the fiery furnace—that we reach our hands up and plead for His presence.

So no, I’d rather not have the trials, but since I know I’m who I am today because of the difficult times and how they’ve shaped me, I can rejoice as Peter exhorted.

I can praise and glorify and honor my Lord. I can love Him through the trials. I can find hope, knowing that my trials are for “a little while.” And I can be confident God will use those trials to make me precious like gold.

Facing Tribulation (1 Thess. 2:1-2)

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
(1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, NASB)

Some people seem to think that once you become a Christian, your life becomes calm, peaceful, and stress-free. Clearly, those people haven’t really studied the Bible. Troubles are pretty much promised.

James made it crystal clear when he wrote, “Consider it all joy … when you fall into various trials …” Not if you fall, but when you fall. And Jesus Himself promised difficult times when He said, “In the world you will have tribulation …” (John 16:33). Again, it isn’t a maybe; it’s a will.

Paul knew more than most what it meant to suffer for the name of Christ. In his second letter to the church at Corinth, he described trials and tribulations beyond comprehension. He was beaten, stoned, robbed, imprisoned, and shipwrecked. He experienced weariness, hunger, and thirst. (See 2 Cor. 11:22-27.)

Yet he was able to rejoice in the chains that imprisoned him. He was able to withstand pain and suffering. Why? Because he knew he was following the will of his God and that any suffering he experienced on earth meant nothing in the light of eternity: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18).

More importantly, he was confident that nothing would ever separate him from the love of his Father:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-39, NKJV)

Yes, we will have trials and tribulations, but we can be confident of one thing. Our Lord and Savior will be victorious. Or as Jesus said at the end of John 16:33, “... be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

A Crown of Life (James 1:12)

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 1:12, NASB)

This is one of those verses that we Christians should commit to memory. It’s a wonderful reminder of why we can find joy in our trials. (See devotional from August 1.)

One day, each of us will stand before our Lord God, and He will place on our heads the crown of life. He will look at what we did to serve Him and others. He will review how we stood strong through trials and sufferings.

And He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:14-30).

When I think of seeing my God face-to-face and hearing those words, anything that happens to me here on earth is worth it. The abuse I experienced as a child. My struggle with infertility. My daily pain.

Every trial has refined me and made me stronger. God has used—and continues to use—me and my stories to encourage others.

And one day, I’ll wear that crown of life.

If you’re struggling, remember that God loves you and will help you through whatever storm you’re going through. Persevere and know one day you, too, will wear that crown.

Turning Away vs. Supporting (2 Tim. 1:15-18)

You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.
(2 Timothy 1:15-18, NASB)

These verses contain a contrast that I believe still exists today. In verse 15, Paul wrote of those who “turned away from” him. Then verses 16-18 commend someone who stood beside him.

I know of people in ministry who experience the same. On one hand, they’re surrounded by brothers and sisters who pray for them and sometimes even support them financially. Then on the other hand, naysayers and even antagonists belittle or malign them. Even worse, some who supported them in the past “turn away from” them.

Even Jesus had His supporters and those who walked away. During His ministry, some who initially followed Him didn’t stay. And when He was arrested, all of His inner circle—His disciples—ran away (Matt. 26:56; Mark 15:50). Yet it seems that at least two of His disciples did at least attempt to be near Him (John 18:25), and some of the women who had followed Jesus remained as close to His side as possible as He walked His final steps and then hung on the cross (Matt. 27:55-56).

So why should we be surprised when people turn from us? It’ll happen. The best thing to do is focus on those who remain. Be grateful for those who minister with us and support us. And make certain we support others in return.