{"id":1472,"date":"2017-07-09T16:49:50","date_gmt":"2017-07-09T20:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/?p=1472"},"modified":"2017-07-24T14:04:30","modified_gmt":"2017-07-24T18:04:30","slug":"embrace-the-trial-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/09\/embrace-the-trial-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Embrace the Trial \u2013 Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHoney, I think we need to go to the hospital!<\/em>\u201d This was a statement I had heard four times before, as we anticipated the arrival of each of our wonderful children, God has blessed us with. This day, I found myself on the other side of this statement\u2014I was actually saying these words!<\/p>\n

At times, in life, we find ourselves looking squarely into the head-on collision of an unforeseen trial that may appear overwhelming in its uncertainties. What do you do? How do you respond? Is there purpose? How can we know? The list of questions seems daunting as we ponder the endless possibilities.<\/p>\n

The words, \u201cembrace\u201d and \u201ctrial,\u201d when put together, seem so foreign and contrary. Yet these two words were on my mind. A \u201ctrial\u201d speaks of a hardship, something unwanted and unsolicited. An \u201cembrace\u201d speaks of warmth and love. For me it brings memories of my mother\u2019s loving embrace\u2014something I long for. So, how can these two words coexist in the same thought?<\/p>\n

As I began the process of coming to grips with this current trial, the phrase, \u201cEmbrace the trial<\/em>,\u201d kept repeatedly coming to mind. It was something I couldn\u2019t get out of my head. Soon I found myself taking this before the Lord to find His purpose of this seemingly contradictory phrase<\/em>. What the Lord showed me was both refreshing and humbling. The fog began to burn off with the view before me coming into focus. And then with great clarity this purpose statement came to rest at the forefront of my mind. \u201cEmbrace the trial\u2014that I may know Him and glorify Him<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the process of coming to grips with this trial, a dear friend of mine challenged me to write a poem. Naturally, I laughed at the thought. Actually, I think I laughed out loud when he said it. Writing isn\u2019t my area of expertise, although I enjoy sharing God\u2019s truths through the written word. Later that evening, I found myself actually considering his challenge.<\/p>\n

So, with pen in hand I began to pour my heart out on the page. I was amazed at how therapeutic I found the process, as it was good medicine for my soul. What came out was the struggle of the trial expressed in a conversation with my loving, heavenly Father. I was amazed at how easily the words flowed. With the recurring line \u201cEmbrace the trial<\/em>,\u201d God has been reassuring me of His love, like the tender reminder of a father encouraging his son to embrace what is best, despite the painful process. With His gracious Word of truth, He was reminding me to trust Him because He is trustworthy. Paul states, \u201cFaithful is<\/em> He<\/strong> that calleth you, Who<\/strong> also will do it<\/em><\/span>\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Through these words He continues to remind me of His sovereign purpose of conforming me into the image of His dear Son.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s GOAL for me is to KNOW HIM, in order to GLORIFY HIM, as I am changed to be LIKE HIM. This is His goal for every soul in every trial. This is the purging process<\/em>\u2014the crucible of affliction<\/em> that God, in His loving providence, sees fit to bring about the change that He desires. It has been said that this is the process by which the Spirit of God<\/em>, takes the Word of God<\/em> and transforms us into the likeness of the Son of God<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Paul writes about this process of change, saying, \u201cBut we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord<\/strong>, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even<\/em> as by the Spirit<\/strong> of the Lord<\/strong><\/span>\u201d (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are changed into the same image that we spend time gazing on. The challenge is to spend time gazing upon the image of the Son of God found in the Word of God so as to be \u201cchanged into that same image from glory to glory<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I love the results, David writes of in Psalm 40:3, that God brings about. He writes, \u201cAnd He<\/strong> hath put a new song in my mouth, even<\/em> praise unto our God<\/strong>: many shall see it,<\/em> and fear, and shall trust in the LORD<\/strong>.<\/span>\u201d In my case, \u201cHe has put a new poem<\/em> of praise in my mouth.\u201d My prayer is that those who read it shall \u201cworship and shall trust in the LORD.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here is what the Lord spoke to my heart about. My prayer is that it will be a special blessing to you, wherever you find yourself, whether needing to embrace a trial<\/em> or simply continuing life\u2019s journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the Trial\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy me?\u201d The question often asked, when confronted with a trial.
\nBut is this the right one to be asked, facing the upward mile?<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the trial<\/em>,\u201d God says to me, \u201cand fight not My design.
\nMy way seems hard, the road unsure, when questioning the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy fight is not with You, my God, but why my path so hard?
\nMy Lord, is this the best for me, Your frail and weary child?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the trial<\/em>,\u201d my Lord responds, \u201cSurrender to My way.
\nTruly it\u2019s for your best, you\u2019ll see, My blessings\u2019 on its way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Lord, this path is quite unclear and only if I knew,
\nThe length of time to see it through I\u2019d surrender all to You!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace the trial<\/em>, my dear child, I want what\u2019s best for you.
\nI love you more than you can know, just trust Me, this is true!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why, O Lord, is this so hard for me to yield to You?
\nIf only but a glimpse of view to bear this burden through.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then with loving, gentle voice, the pain He cuts right through,
\n\u201cMy Son will come alive in you, when yieldings\u2019 what you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook up and see your Savior\u2019s face, and gaze upon My Word.
\nIn time, you\u2019ll be the change I see, committed to your Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook up and see My eyes of grace, I look from up above.
\nFear not, My child, the pain you feel is sent because I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRejoice! My mercy never fails, enduring to the end.
\nMy grace you\u2019ll find sufficient in humility you bend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best is not the question \u2018Why?\u2019 but better yet, just \u2018Who?\u2019
\nFor when you see Me, Who I am, you will surrender too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, embrace the trial<\/em>, My dear child, My best is what you\u2019ll see,
\nBeyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.\u201d<\/p>\n

In case you were wondering\u2026No, I\u2019m not through having this conversation but I am truly grateful for how we have begun. I know the road ahead will be marked with areas of failure and repentance. I know there will be times where I am tempted to misplace my trust. I know there will be times that I will need to refocus my perspective on my loving Savior\u2019s face and the purpose that He is seeking to accomplish. The bottom line is that I know that I will need to \u201cembrace the trial,<\/em>\u201d time and time again in order to achieve the goal for which God has purposed. His will is for me to know Him, in order to glorify Him, as I am changed into the image of His Son. By God\u2019s grace and with the prayers of His saints I will \u201cembrace the trial\u2014that I may know Him and glorify Him<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can you relate? It is very possible that you have had a similar conversation with the Lord. Or maybe it is time to have this conversation with our good and loving God. I want to encourage you to read over and meditate upon the truths of God\u2019s Word, then take Him at His Word. I want to encourage you to \u201cembrace the trial.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook up and see God\u2019s eyes of grace, He looks from up above. Fear not, God\u2019s child, the pain you feel is sent because He loves<\/em>.\u201d And then \u201cRejoice! His mercy never fails, enduring to the end. His grace you\u2019ll find sufficient in humility you bend. So, embrace the trial<\/strong>, God\u2019s dear child, His best is what you\u2019ll see, beyond the suffering you feel, God\u2019s Son they soon shall see<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n