How to Look at Trials Through the Eyes of God

Trials are inevitable and come to all believers, so how should we look at even the worst trials in our lives?

On Trial

Trials are inevitable and come to all believers, so how should we look at even the worst trials in our lives? The word “trial” makes me think of a court with a judge, jury and lawyers, and maybe that might help us because God doesn’t test our faith to see how weak or strong our faith is. He already knows. He tests our faith so that we will know how weak or strong it is and learn to rely upon Him at times when no one or nothing else will help our situation. In our trial, evidence comes forth that we plead either guilty or not guilty with having a weak, fearful faith or being convicted of having strong faith that endures trails. Enduring trials and coming through them shows God’s faithfulness, even in sometimes impossible situations. Of course, nothing is impossible for God.

A Tested Faith

A faith that’s not been tested is a faith that can’t be trusted. We test things out all the time before we buy them to see if they are what they say they are. Only by testing something can we determine what’s right for us and what a bad idea is. I won’t buy a car without test driving it…so God allows trials to test our faith in the hopes that we’ll trust God in all situations. James wrote, “that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3) with the end result being to “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). The word complete is more like reaching full maturity as a believer, having lived through various trials and having seen God’s faithfulness through the years. Because of this, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” (Heb 6:19). That’s what trials do.

Passing or Failing the Test

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus showed that only one in four of the seeds took root, and one of those seeds which failed, failed because the tests or trials were too much for them to handle. Jesus said that “the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away” (Luke 8:13). That testing which causes them to fall away might be persecution they’re not willing to take from their family or friends. That testing might be the death of a child or a spouse and they can’t figure why God would allow that. The point being, the one who perseveres through trials are the ones who are saved. There is a warning similar to ancient Israel’s failure where we are also told, “do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” (Heb 3:8). Trials can make you bitter or they can make you better. Ancient Israel failed, but we don’t have to, so “the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt 24:13). James’s council is to embrace trials as a work of God and “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2) because God is working in you (James 1:3-4).

Humbling Trials

Some trials (tests by God) are like being lost in the desert. There is no hope of finding food or water and there are no landmarks to help you know where you are, so you don’t know when it’ll end. That’s where Ancient Israel was at, but God allowed this for good reason. The Lord told them, “you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not” (Deut 8:2). If nothing else, trials humble us, let us know what’s in our heart, and they make us seek help, and our ultimate help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:2).

The Hope of Heaven

One thing trials can do is to make us look ahead to a time when God promises to “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). As we look back from our time in the Kingdom, we’ll finally see how “that for those who love God all things work together for good,[for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). That good purpose of God’s may not be made known to us in this life. Trials and this life are like seminary…but in the Kingdom, we graduate. As one pastor told the boy who asked why the graveyard was next to the church, the pastor replied, “Those are the graduates.”

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Examples of Trials in the Bible: 7 Biblical Stories

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Suffering, Tests, Trials, Tribulation