30/03/2022
Trials in a spiritual perspective
By: Ickay
"When it's harder, that's when I see and feel God closer."
Oftentimes, we see struggles and sufferings in a negative way. We thought God is punishing us because of our wrong doings. But struggles, sufferings and trials in a spiritual perspective are God's protection.
What? Trials are God's protection? How am I being protected when I am hurting? When I am in pain? In discomfort? Well, it's hard to believe and accept it that way. But let's believe in God's way. Those are His spiritual protection for us not to be so in love with the world, with ourselves and/or with anybody more than Him.
It's when things get harder that we come to God closer because we don't have anything or anyone to run to. It's Only Him. It's when we can feel more of His love and His presence.
We are more tempted to be so self focus when everything is running smoothly the way we wanted them to be. But when trials, sufferings and or challenges of any kind come, we will be pushed to No other way but to call our great Help, His Name is Jesus. That moment is when Jesus become bigger in our sight and getting closer in us though He never left us nor went far from us. It's just us who leave and go far away from Him.
It's better to experience pain in this world than to suffer in the next life to come in eternity. God loves us so much that He wanted all of us to make it to Heaven. A father disciplined his children whom he love so as God's children we are also being trained/disciplined for a righteous way of living- a life focused in Christ and less of ourselves.
When things are difficult, God is actually saying... Come, my child. Unload everything to me. Listen to my voice. Experience my unfailing love.
2 Points
📌 Trials are God's protection
📌 Trials are best opportunity for us to experience God's mercy, unconditional love and unfailing grace.
Questions to Ponder:
How do we view challenges? Do challenges break us or build us? Do they push us to be Christ-dependent or self-reliant?
-Honestly speaking, without God's grace, I cannot see myself staying with God's beloved because I am weak, sinful, emotional, impulsive woman. There came a point when the weight of the struggles was heavy on my part, I wanted to quit- even thought of ending my life. Those lies of the devil circling on my head saying "You haven't done anything right. You hypocrite woman. Preaching God's word but failed to practice them. You are pretentious and a liar. You don't do what you promised. You are inconsistent and haven't change." And a lot of issues in my life even my past came back. There came a mental and emotional breakdown. Physically, emotionally, mentally tired plus spiritually drained. But I thank God because He is my all time rescue when things on my head and surroundings are messing up. He constantly prove His unconditional love despite my shaking faith and miserable thoughts. I am constantly clothe by His grace even as I write these things. It's all because of His wonderful grace why I am still here.
Whatever kind of trials we are into, may it be external or internal ones. God is always in control. Those happen in order for God to shine the brightest in our dark, chaotic world.
2 Corinthians Chapter 4: 16-18
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Supporting Verses:
*Hebrews 12:4-12
*Proverbs 3:12
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TGBTG | 03.29.2022