Great trials change us, making us different people. Trials in life happen, and you may have experienced some on your journey of faith. The question for all of us is, “Will we let God transform us through these trials?”
I ministered to a man who divorced his wife for another and pursued the riches of the world. Then a time of trials came upon him. His second wife died unexpectedly, and he later discovered he had stage four cancer. When I met him one Sunday, he was a broken man, but in his brokenness, he responded to God’s calling and returned to the Lord. Through this trial, he asked the Lord to forgive him and became a believer in Jesus. With a changed heart, he also asked his former wife and family to forgive him.
One day, he asked me, “Why did it take such a disease for God to change my heart?” The trials we endure in life don’t have to stem from our own sin or the sins of others; yet, God uses such experiences to refine us in the fire and transform us. One man who was forever changed by a great trial was Abraham, the father of Isaac.
Trials Change Our Perspective
There is always a next chapter to the trials and tests of life, not just for Abraham but also for us as we endure the trials of life. 1 Peter 1:6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. [1]
This is the type of fire Abraham endured when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Moved by faith, Abraham took Isaac to the land of Moriah to sacrifice him. As he was about to plunge the knife into his son, the Lord told him to stop and provided a ram as a substitute. Following such an experience, Abraham was forever changed. He felt the grace of God as he received back his son, who would be the son of the promise, just as God had said. Warren Wiersbe writes, “In the ‘School of Faith, ‘ we must have occasional tests, or we will never know where we are spiritually.” [2]
Can Trials Be Considered a Gift?
As we emerge from a significant trial, God reveals how He brings good from it and transforms our lives. Through these challenges, the Lord highlights the importance of faith, enabling us to navigate difficult times and grow stronger in our faith. When we face problems in life, it can make it difficult to see the positive outcomes God has in store for us.
To embrace trials with faith, we must trust that God has a beneficial and purposeful plan, even when challenges feel immense. We can find comfort in knowing God will guide us through obstacles, nurturing the steadfastness needed for an abundant life.
To learn how great trials change us, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/trusting-god-beyond-understanding
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Pe 1:6–7). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 108). Victor Books.