Category Archives: Embrace the Trial

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“Embrace the Trial” – Part 8

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Understanding more of the “What” Question – “Embracing ‘What’ God Delights In”

Understanding Who God is leads to knowing what He desires of me, but also what He delights in. Right knowledge leads to right living. With the privilege of knowing God comes the responsibility of obeying God. A proper understanding of Who God is should lead us to ask the contrary question to the natural question: we naturally ask “Why me?” while God desires us to ask the question, “Why not me?”—ultimately, “What are you seeking to teach me?” A right understanding of God’s purpose leads us to see our ministry through the trial and continues after the trial’s conclusion. This truth should encourage us to embrace the trial even more. We are to “comfort [others] which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

God’s desire is that we would live a life according to our design of bringing Him glory (1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11). As we seek to understand the what question, we seek to embrace the ministry of the trial as we embrace what God desires. Now let us consider the what question further and seek to embrace what God delights in by embracing God’s leading us in His way.

I looked back through what I had journaled during those first days, back in July of 2017. In my devotions I was reminded of Psalm 37 which blossomed into a time of great encouragement and hopefulness, rich with meaningful purpose. It was like a road map was laid out before me, showing me the pathway through this temptation rich battlefield of the mind. This became clear as I read that

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23

David tells us that the Lord “delights” in the way of the “good man.” I knew that I wanted the Lord to delight in the way that I would take through this trial, but how? How could I be someone whom my God delights in, especially as I anticipate the unknown twists and turns of this path that is before me? The more I studied this passage the more the Lord began to peel back the layers unfolding the powerful and transforming truths.

Near the end of the chapter David writes,

“Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.”— Psalm 37:37

What jumps out to me here is that “the end” or outcome “of that man”—the “perfect” and “upright man”—“is peace.” This catches my attention because this was exactly what I needed. I needed peace—God’s kind of transcendent peace—the kind that doesn’t make sense given the circumstance (Philippians 4:7).

I see that I am commanded to “mark the perfect man” and I am also to “behold the upright.” These words, “mark” and “behold,” carry the idea seeing such value that we pay close attention so as to learn from them and follow their example. I believe the “good man” from verse 23 is the same as the “perfect and upright man.” The Lord “orders” or makes his steps firm because he is submissive to the Lord’s leading. The “good man” is marked by humility and dependency in obedience to the commands of God’s Word. This is the “way” of peace that God “delights in.”

Let us consider the commands of Psalm 37 starting with the first. Psalm 37 begins with a negative command—don’t do this! David writes, “Fret not thyself…” (verse 1). This word “fret” carries the ides of getting consumed with anxiety and anger over something that we have little or no control over. The reality is that a trial gives us plenty of things to “fret” over. The “what if” monster seems to peak around every corner tempting us to doubt God’s goodness, love and leading. We can begin to fret about an endless number of things that can draw us away from God instead of drawing us into greater dependence upon Him through His Word—His stabilizing truths. This fretful way is the way of inner turmoil and conflict, instability and fear. It is NOT the way that God delights in.

So how then do we obey this command and keep from “fretting”? Encouraging ourselves to “not fret” is an effort in futility for it keeps reminding us what we are not supposed to be doing while we are trying not to do it. I find that my mind gets stuck in painfully contorted positions as I perform all different kinds of mental gymnastics—it is a vicious cycle that has a snowball effect which only makes my situation worse.

The beauty of God’s Word is that when we find a negative command we often find positive commands and promises to help us obey the negative ones. So how do we learn to “fret not”? Read on in the chapter and find the positive commands—the “do this” commands. Pay attention to the “good man” and see what he is marked by so as to learn from him.

The “good man” of Psalm 37 is submissive to the Lord’s leading by being obedient to His commands. He is a good steward of God’s leading. Here in Psalm 37 we see five specific marks of the “good man” who is a good steward of God’s leading. What I find fascinating is how each one builds upon the other similar to the process of building a house.

Be STABLE—“TRUST in the Lord.”

The first mark of a “good man” is found in verse 3 where we see his STABILITY. This first positive command is to “TRUST in the Lord.” In the building process we must begin with a solid foundation. This word, “trust,” speaks of a deep abiding reliance. Trusting is calmly confiding in Him. It is being at peace, knowing the Biblical revelation of God. These truths will stabilize the soul. This command is rooted in the character of God—knowing Who He is. The truths of God are foundational to a life that God delights in. As I consider the pathway of this trial, I can be sure that His way is trustworthy only when I know Who He is. I must learn more about God in order to trust Him so as to be led by Him. The “good man’s” way is marked by a mind that is stabilized in the Lord because he knows that he can trust Him.

Be SATISFIED—“DELIGHT thyself in the Lord.”

The second mark is found in verse 4 where we see his satisfaction. This command is to “DELIGHT thyself in the Lord.” Our trusting God—being stabilized in Him—leads to being satisfied in Him. Often this verse is used to explain the means by which we get what we want from God. This is not the way to get your hands upon God’s provision, but instead how you get your heart where God’s purpose is. When I know that God’s way is motivated by His unconditional love for me, desiring my best for His glory, I can find my satisfaction in Him.

This satisfaction comes from saturation—being saturated with God’s Word as my mind is renewed in Christ. This process changes our desires, bringing them in line with God’s desires. A right attitude transforms our delight in trials.

“Count it all joy when ye fall into [various trials] knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”—James 1:2-3

Rejoice in Him and His righteous and loving way. Rejoice knowing that this is the good way—that God will use this to “work all things together for good” to conform me into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). The “good man’s” way is marked by a heart that is satisfied in the Lord because he is saturated with His Word.

Be SURRENDERED—“COMMIT thy works unto the Lord.”

The third mark is found in verse 5 where we see his surrender. This command is to “COMMIT thy works unto the Lord.” The idea of this word “commit” is to roll a burden onto something that you believe can carry the weight. I must know Him in order to trust Him with the burdens of my life. The idea here is that of surrendering my heart, yielding my desires to Him—surrendering to His leading. The more I know Him the more I can see that His ways are always best. His way is the perfect way.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8-9

The command to “trust in the Lord” is to surrender our thoughts, bringing them in line with God’s thoughts which leads to obedience. In the book of Proverbs, we see a precept and a promise. The precept is, “Commit thy works unto the Lord” while the promise is, “and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). We must surrender our way to the Father and He will stabilize our thoughts. The “good man’s” way is marked by steps that are surrendered to the Lord because he sees, with the eye of faith, that God’s way is best. This is the way that God delights in because it is His way.

Be STILL—“REST in the Lord.”

The fourth mark is found in verse 7 where we see his stillness. This command is “REST in the Lord.” The idea of this word “rest” is that of quietness. “Be still” before the Lord, knowing that He alone is God (Psalm 46:10). My resting is based upon my trusting, knowing Who my God is.

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”—2 Peter 1:2

It is because of WHO I know that I can be still. As I commit my way to the Lord my burdens are lifted and I can rest being still in perfect trust even though the storm still rages. The “good man’s” way is marked by a mind that is still before the Lord, no longer fighting for his own way, because he knows and trusts his God.

Be SUBMISSIVE—“WAIT upon the Lord.”

The fifth mark is found in verse 34 where we see his submission. This command is – “WAIT upon the Lord” (v. 34) – “Waiting” carries the idea of patient confidence. Whereas our surrender is to cease from fighting for our way, submission is intentionally bringing our way under God’s way. Our trusting the Lord is evidenced in our submission to His will and His way, knowing that His timing is perfect. I must wait in submission for His process to come to fruition to complete God’s intended purposes. The “good man’s” way is marked by a soul in submission to the Lord because he is trusting that God’s way is best as he yields to God’s control.

Obedience to these five positive commands enable us to “fret not.” They enable us to be still though the storms of the trial rages all around. Though the circumstances remain unchanged our heart can rest. This is the way that the Lord delights in.

“So, embrace the trial, My dear child, My best is what you’ll see,Beyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.”

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Embrace the Trial – Part 7

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Understanding the “What” Question – “Embracing‘What’ God Desires”

The “Who” question leads us to the “What” question. Understanding more of Who God is brings us to the place of seeing our trial through the lens of Scripture from God’s perspective. From His vantage point we can begin to see what He desires—what He desires us to do.

Looking back on the days immediately following my Emergency Room visit, I lay in bed trying to come to grips with what exactly was taking place. During those first few days the Lord was challenging me to embrace the ministry of this trial. This tends to be a foreign concept in the way that we naturally think. The reality is that these custom designed trials are meant to impact far more than just the one it was specifically designed for. God seeks to use our personal trials in the lives of others as we seek to be used of God to minister to them. Consider Paul’s words to the saints at Corinth when he writes,

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”—2 Corinthians 1:3-4

A ministry to others?! I admit that in the throws of a trial this can be quite a challenge to wrap our minds around but I have found that there is a tremendous blessing in embracing the ministry of this trial. The Lord has given me a hope beyond simply enduring this trial—just trying to make it to the end. The reality is that, what if there is no end? What if these health struggles are God’s providential path for me to walk for the duration of my life? Simply enduring this trial would be unbearably frustrating and discouraging. I am convinced that God’s desire is NOT that we endure our trials but truly embrace them for our best and for His glory. To simply endure a trial is resignation to a never-ending reality while embracing the trial sees the value of the trial.

To simply endure the trial takes on a mindset that this is being done “to” me while embracing the trial takes on the mindset that this is being done “for” me.

I remember that I had many questions in those first few days, yet one overarching certainty was that God had a purpose in all of this (Romans 8:28-29). From this truth the Lord laid on my heart this purpose statement.

“Embrace the trial, that I may KNOW Him and GLORIFY Him.”

It was within these first few days I was drawn to the book of Job, finding this study to be both exhausting and refreshing. I sought to plumb the depths of truth in this Biblical account of Job’s suffering and was reminded that God’s desire for each of us is to respond in worship when confronted with adversity. It is true that there are certain lessons that can only be learned in the schoolhouse of suffering. Even still, I believe it is imperative to seek to learn all that we can through the trials that others go through. From Job’s experience, one of the precious truths the Lord has shown me, is how the Godly man responds to adversity—He worships! (Job 1:20-22; Job 2:10). This clearly stems from his right view of God. The book of Job shows us a wonderful example of God’s desire for us to ask the right questions in our trials. Job responds incredibly well, in fact, extremely well when he is confronted first, with the loss of all his possessions and his children (Job 1) and secondly, with the loss of his health (Job 2). In both instances he falls down and worships the Lord. This is a Godly example that we all should strive to emulate.

As I stated in part 2, “I genuinely believe that when we learn to look at our trials in the light of Who God is and what His purpose for our trial is, we will then embrace our trials, understanding that they are for our best and for His glory.” Although these trials often come with great difficulty, we must seek to never lose sight of God’s praiseworthy purpose that Peter speaks of in his first epistle.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”—1 Peter 1:7

Through the trials of life, God’s desire for each of us is to respond to adversity in worship, giving Him glory, not only as an initial response but consistently and faithfully even as the trial wears on.

The purpose statement—“Embrace the trial, that I may know Him and glorify Him”—contains both a command, a purpose, but also a privilege. Obedience to the command to “embrace the trial” leads to the privilege of knowing the greatness of our God more intimately which guides us to the purpose of glorifying our heavenly Father more consistently. Embracing the trial is a spiritually maturing process. The more I learn about Who my heavenly Father is, the more I will grow in His grace and be more inclined to surrender to His perfect plan for me. This is a way of worship which glorifies Him.

Consider our Savior in the days leading up to His crucifixion. The shadow of the cross looms larger and darker over His path with each step He takes to fulfill His foreordained rescue mission He was sent from heaven to accomplish. He understands the full extent of the agony He would endure as He is to be crushed in this looming crucible of affliction. He embraces the reason for this mission, knowing each soul whose sin He will bear but also each soul whom He would save (Hebrews 12:2).

As He anticipates this impending suffering in sacrifice He does not, even for a single moment, rebel against the will of His Father. It is under this weight that He speaks these words;

“Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name”— John 12:27-28a

He embraced the trial because He knew His Father and desired to glorify Him at all costs.

Christ asks the question, “Should I ask to be delivered from this hour—this crucible of affliction?” The very reason for which He came to this earth was to walk this path of humiliating suffering; to die the cross-like death; to bear the sins of the world as our Chief Substitute; and to endure the wrath of a just and holy God against the sin of the world. He came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) and glorify His Father with each step of obedience He took to complete this rescue mission.

The question He asks brings a startling rebuke to my own heart as I consider the thought of refusing what God says is best for me. The Father had determined Christ’s painful path and He has also providentially determined my path. Should I say, “Father, save me from this hour—this trial”? Jesus’ heart’s desire was that His Father would be glorified at any and all costs. Nothing was too great a sacrifice to see His Father magnified. As a recipient of God’s amazing grace and mercy and object of His immeasurable love, should my desire be any different?

What then will be my response? When I surrender daily to God’s Word, “grace and peace [are] multiplied unto [me] through the knowledge of God” (2 Peter 1:2). These transforming truths—knowing the heart of my heavenly Father Who has lovingly designed this path for me brings me to respond, “Father, glorify Thy name”! When I take on the mind and heart of my Savior and follow His example of obedience, my response will be, “Father, glorify Thy name”!

This journey is marked by mountains and valleys. It is marked by paths riddled with twists and turns, with paths that seemingly have no end, accompanied by temptations to doubt the purposes of God. With each step I must, in reliance upon God’s Spirit, remember that this path is one that leads to heights of truth that only this trial will bring me. Yet on this journey the Lord has also brought me to depths where I have seen the heights of the mountains of truth before me. The perspective is different in the valley. From the valley these truths seem even more transcendent as if reaching to the heavens from which they come.

I must embrace both the beautiful sights from the mountain top as well as the beauty of God’s perspective in the valley below.

What then is the path that will bring my heavenly Father the most glory? What opportunities are laid out before me—opportunities to display God-honoring attitudes and actions—opportunities to speak God-honoring words and think God-honoring thoughts? On this foreordained journey laden with obstacles and opportunities how will I respond? I must learn to allow God’s all-sufficient grace to be a practical reality in my life. I must daily surrender, intentionally letting Christ’s “strength [to be] made perfect in [my] weakness.” Then and only then can I begin to echo Paul’s words saying,

“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”— 2 Corinthians 12:9b

Through this process the Lord shows Himself mighty and will advance His kingdom through my story. This is an amazing thought to consider.

Do you find yourself in a similar narrative of difficulty with different characters and circumstances? How are you responding? Let me remind you, of what I so often need to be reminded of myself.

Know somethings about God

Know that our loving God in His sovereignty (His absolute control) and His all-wise providence (His purpose and plan to complete that purpose) allows all things to take place at their exact moment in time. The problem is that we want to be in control having things done when and how we want. Yet as we learn to wait on God, because of Who He is and Who He is to each of us personally, we will then see that all things are done at their beautiful and right time and we can truly rest quietly while we are waiting.

Do something about what you know

Embrace the process as you see it from to God’s vantage point. Refrain from simply enduring the process for with this mindset we miss so much of what God intends for us to learn—truths that we will only learn when we truly see the worth of the trial and therefore reach out and whole-heartedly embrace it.

When I know and trust Who God is—that He will not make this suffering last any longer than is necessary and that He desires my best for His glory—I can submit and wait for His perfect time to complete the process. Again, this is a continual, repeated exercise of the mind as I daily re-embrace the trial that God in His loving providence and sovereignty has custom designed for me.

When “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,” fret or fold. For as we learn to trust the Lord and let Him be our “refuge and strength” we can “be still” because we “know that [He is] God,” we see the reality of His trustworthiness. The result is that He will be “exalted” and glorified in and through our trial (Psalm 46:1-2a,10). This is what God desires.

“So, embrace the trial, My dear child, My best is what you’ll see, Beyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.”