The purpose of your trials


Every Christian has been there. Maybe you're there now. I've been there. Maybe I'm there now, too. We all endure trials. I'm not talking about things that happen after we did something stupid. Those are consequences. That's just life. Trials are something ordained of God (and, of course, He can use our mistakes, as well) to teach us something. To refine or purify us for a future task. And other purposes. Anyway, Charles Stanley says it better than I do. I used to watch Charles when I was in high school on the little TV between the kitchen and dining room. He always made sense. Now he's 90 years old and still preaching. God bless that man. He blessed me many times over. It's a short video but I got a lot out of it. 

One thing God mentioned to me a while back was I had a god in my heart that was getting in the way of our relationship. I thought it was something else. He made it very clear. The god in my heart was my independence and self-reliance. I was always such an independent person. I had to be, as I was required to act like an adult even as a little child. I had a job when I was 3 years old and had one ever since. Since my family was abusive in many ways and my friends were few, I became incredibly independent. I had to be in order to survive. I had myself and no one else to trust. I became a god to myself. Tearing down that idol in my heart hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it, as I've grown so much in the Lord. I had to admit He knows best and I do not. What is faith or any of the fruits of the spirit worth to a man whose god is his own independence? Imagine how many ways God had to humble me in order to deal with this one thing. It was brutal. I don't want to endure more of that so simply gave up and let God be God and me the one who needs help and guidance. It's very freeing, as I don't have to be responsible for the consequences of what God tells me to do. Sometimes God has to take away the biggest and most important thing in our heart to get our attention. God's patience with me is always humbling to behold. That's an example of a trial that got me somewhere better. I thank God for it now, but at the time it was like my world was ending. If it had to end, that's okay. God will start something better. Amen? It seems pretty clear I'm in a period of rest and recuperation before the next step, whatever that is. I'm waiting on God's answer to what's next. Right now He's saying I need to rest and be faithful to be obedient. That's probably enough. 

Thank you for reading. And God bless.

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