When trials come, they often seem to do so at moments when you least expect them.
That seems to be a strange statement since most people would agree that this is the nature of trials. No one sits around and longs for a trial. On the other hand, we don’t wait for months, anticipating incredible opportunities to serve God, knowing that while we are serving, someone close to us is about to cross over into glory. This is the struggle! Do I press on to preach this revival in Wyoming knowing that my grandmother lies in Hospice care in Abilene, having just had a stroke which has definitely taken its toll on her body? Why now? That is the first question I asked myself. And yes I will agree it is a selfish question. My grandmother need not worry about the why … she is about to graduate from this life! Her race is almost complete. But for us, the family, life in this body goes on. For the past several months I have resolved to let mamaw go, preparing myself for the inevitable that is to come. I just am not prepared for the possibility that her passing might occur while I am away. My loving wife, as usual, gives her wise advice to me as I sat worrying over what I would do if I was in Wyoming preaching? Susie told me, “What you must do is preach the gospel!” Pretty simple! But her words go much deeper than that. They strike at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. From Jesus’ own words Luke 9:59-62 says,
“To another he said, “Follow me,” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
I find that in times like these I am weak, my faith falters, and having took hold of the plow I desire to look back at what works so hard to distract me from doing the work of Christ. How many times I would love to install a rear view mirror on my plow of discipleship, simply to make it less an effort for me to constantly be looking over my shoulder. Yet Scripture rings through to my heart, and like the bright lights of an oncoming vehicle it jerks my vision back to what lies ahead of me.
Hebrews 12:2, my life verse reminds me to “Fix my eyes on Jesus,” and 1 Peter 1:6-7 gives one more reason to persevere through the trials and struggles of life:
“In this you rejoice, through now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
With God it is always a choice. I will choose to rejoice in this trial, because at the completion of the testing what God sees as being more “precious” than gold is the praise and glory and honor of Jesus Christ being revealed in the refiners fire.
Study to know Him,
Good article. Denise and I were talking about a recent trial we faced, and the fact that every time we are in a real “crisis” situation, the Lord seems to take us out of town. It’s happened three separate times since I’ve been here at Calvary for 10 years. Three leadership couples in serious trouble, we intervene with little or no success, and God takes us out of town. It’s almost like He wants to see if we’ll trust him. On another note. Our good friends from Fort Worth who serve about 6 months a year in Africa have had to leave the last two times with sick parents. The last time they left was after his mother died, leaving an elderly father, and her father was at home with hospice. They arrived home a few months ago, and three days later her father passed away. I’m amazed at God’s timing, and I’m glad I don’t understand it all.