There are some verses that we cannot understand nor live out apart from the working of the Holy Spirit in our life. One such verse is Romans 12:12, where it says we are to be “patient in tribulation”. The least natural thing we can do is to be patient in tribulation.
It takes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit such that a saint can live the upside-down Christian life. A life that stands out as bizarre in a world bent on self-pleasure and instant gratification. I pray you would consider that it is in tribulation where the Lord is doing His greatest work in you.
Even when it seems you do not have a prayer, pray.
When you think you can’t take it anymore, then give it to Him. He tells you to place your trials between hope and prayer. Be a saint that is “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
Good times please the man, but the hard times make the man.
The test reveals the man.
Adversity is the window through which we can see how much a saint trusts in God. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Never squander that which only adversity can produce in your life.
It is not how many times you fall down that determines your perseverance, but how many times you get back up.
The Christian life is not an easy life, but a life that endures all things. “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Nothing exposes your heart faster or with greater clarity than a trial.
If you didn’t have the trials, you wouldn’t know what you were made of.
The wilderness you are in reveals you. “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2).
Trials are the lenses in which God allows you to see yourself as you really are.
If you want to serve the Lord, never imagine it will be easy. If God did not spare His prophets, His apostles and even His Son, why do you think He will spare you?
Sometimes God has to hurt us to make us different than everyone else. “…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character…” (Romans 5:3-4).
God never said you will not cry on earth, but that He will wipe away your tears in heaven.
Victory belongs to those who refuse to give up.
His peace cannot be over you unless you are under Him. Jesus said, “…in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
God connects with us deeper in our trials. It is in our deepest wounds that He can enter the deepest places of our heart.
The Lord builds up our trust by giving us trials in which trusting Him is all we can do.
Never imagine your life is supposed to be easy. You must walk through the wilderness to get to the promise. “…We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
The joy may come in the morning, but it is going to be a long night. Never think the life of a saint is easy.
Do not only focus on getting through your circumstances, rather seek how you can glorify God in your circumstances. It is in the midst of the storm that others will see what our God can do.
Proverbs 3:6 says “…He will make our paths straight”. But it doesn’t say He will make our paths smooth.
When the world comes against you, this is often when the Kingdom is trying to work through you. Press in.
Your life is the classroom and your circumstances the lesson. The hardest lesson is the one that grows you the most. Let your wilderness grow you.
The trials of the day are only as big as the day but cannot compare to eternity. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Don’t give up, ever.
Blessings to you,
Paul
All Scripture is in red and uses the NKJV (New King James Version) translation unless otherwise noted.