Trials and Troubles

Good Morning,

James 1:2 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Today I think that we have the answer to a couple of questions that many of us have from time to time. And, of course, the answers to those questions come directly from what God has put into the Bible for us to read.

"Why in the world should I be joyful when I have these trials in my life?" I know that I've certainly asked that question and wondered at being joyful when troubles seemed to come from every direction. So, the answer? "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles." Now, notice that this doesn't say that God REMOVES all of our troubles or prevents troubles from coming into our lives. No, but it DOES say that He is there to give us comfort and compassion during our times of trials and troubles.

"Why does God allow so many troubles to come into my life?" Yes, we often seem to have more troubles that we can handle. But, isn't it amazing? We always seem to come out the other side of those troubles, and often much better for it. That, of course, because of God being in our lives to comfort us as we just discussed. But, again, why this particular trial or that exact trouble? "...so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." Now, that seems pretty simple and clear, doesn't it?

If we don't get the experience of any certain trial in life, then how are we to be Jesus into the lives of others who have that same trial? I believe that many of our problems are allowed so that we can, truly, feel God working in our lives and then, as time goes by, we can know how to offer the comfort and compassion that we have felt from God, into the life of another going through the same thing.

So, why feel that joy in times of trouble? So that God can work and show His love, care, comfort, and compassion in our lives.

And, why this or that particular problem? So that we will have the experience to offer the same love, care, comfort, and compassion that we have been shown into the lives of others suffering as we once did.

Yes, it will always remain difficult to really be joyful in times of trouble and trial, I know. But, isn't it just a bit easier to know that in our times of those trials and troubles that there might be a very good reason? And that God will use us in a special way?

That should give us peace and a truer understanding of what it means to be a Christian.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David