Dealing With Trials and Tribulations
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2010
by Mark Parsec
Wordcasters
Bad days, we all have them from time to time. But, once in a great while the bad days turn into an absolute avalanche of adversity, calamity, hardship and trouble. Often, we refer to these hard times as trials and tribulations.
Recently, I’ve been going through my own epidemic of bad luck… financial difficulties, slander and false accusations regarding my character, my wife’s broken ribs again, as well as broken windows, planters and coffee cups.
Did things get better? No! In the midst of all these things, my wife and I, and our grandson, all came down with the flu. Then… my wife ended up going to the emergency room for chest pains. The doctors suspected a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her lungs. They admitted her into the hospital Monday evening and did not release her until Friday. And although she is home now, the doctors want her to follow up with a cardiologist. They are suspecting heart problems.
Have you ever had a day or a week or a month like this? If you haven’t then its possible you are not from the same planet that I am from. Because EVERYBODY goes through their own trials and tribulations. But, as Christians we often wonder… why? Why are these things happening to… ME?
Well, there are a few explanations as to why bad things happen to good people. I’d like to discuss a few of those.
First of all, Jesus promised that we would have trials and tribulations. In John 16:33 Jesus told us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” So, there is no way to get around it. Trials and tribulations are a guaranteed part of the Christian experience. Even Jesus, who was perfect in every way, went through his own trials and tribulations.
So, the question is not so much why do trials and tribulations come our way, but rather, what should we do when trials and tribulations come our way.
Continuing his statement in John 16:33 Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”
So, in answer to the question about what we should do when bad things happen and we go through various trials and tribulations… Jesus’ advice was that we “Be of good cheer.” It kind of reminds me of the song… “Don’t Worry Be Happy!”
Jesus wants us to be happy, to be of good cheer, no matter what happens to us in this world. And why? Because He has overcome the world. Now, that is very significant. Why? Because Jesus not only identifies the source of our tribulations… “the world”, but He informs us that He has won the victory over the source of all our troubles. And that is Good News!
Can you say… “Jesus has won the victory!” Feels good doesn’t it? Remember that the next time you are going through your own trials and tribulations.
Now, I know that it is difficult for us to be happy when we are going through bad times, let alone shout out, “Jesus, has won the victory.” But, I think that is because we become so focused on our own little world and our own problems that the big picture evades us. So, to help you see the big picture and get a biblical perspective of trials and tribulations, I would like to share an account with you about a man who really went through the ringer and lost everything…
Job and His Family in Uz
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job Loses His Property and Children
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans[c] raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across[d] the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across[d] the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
For those of you who are going through trials and tribulations, I would like to encourage you to read the entire Book of Job.
You see, Job was a good man, a righteous man. But, bad things happened to him. Did he bring these things upon himself? No. They were brought upon him by Satan, the prince of this world (Eph. 2:2). And why did Satan bring all of this hardship upon Job? Because Job was happy and living in proper relationship with the Lord, and Satan wanted to steal his joy and his victory and sabotage his relationship with God.
But, what was Job’s response? To paraphrase…
Naked I came into this world and naked I shall depart. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!
In the midst of his storm, Job praised God! And, how did that work out for Job? Well, in the last chapter of Job, in Job 42:10, we are told…
The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.
Job ended up blessed with twice as much as he had before his tribulation!
Oh, that we could be more like Job and praise God in the midst of our storms. And we can! If we keep a proper perspective of things.
First, we need to remember that God is large and in charge and nothing happens in His universe by mistake. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
We also need to remember the words of the Apostle Paul who told us in Romans 8:28…
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We need to remember that Jesus has the victory and since God loves us He wants to share Christ’s victory with us. In Romans 8:35-39 the Apostle Paul tells us…
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“ For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now that’s Good News for people going through the storms of life. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Jesus has won the victory!
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)It always chilled me as a spiritual tyranny that in this Bible story, the Devil had to ask permission from God, first, to excoriate and torture Job and that such permission was granted with a proviso,"only do not lay a hand on his person.” Don't outright kill him......It seems so unfair that devout people seeking spirituality who want to help others are so attacked.But this bad things happen to good folks is all too common.I have seen this so often with so many people.If people want to progress spiritually, or psychically, they often repeatedly manifest this into their lives.They want to do good work, help the world, know the truth, help others receive Christ....The higher self receives this and responds to the request by inflicting trials and tests, including psychic attacks, bad luck and demons.This is comparable to throwing a child into the deep end of a pool....swim or sink.To your higher power, this is the only way to progress spiritually in the greater reality that might work in a lifetime. Survival is not a given, of course.To say that it is in one's 'blueprint' isn't good enough as an explanation;One may or may not have chosen (wished) for anything like this in your current life.I think it unfair and unrealistic to say we have 'chosen' these things. We, personally, have not chosen to be spiritually ,emotionally brutalized. Who would do such a thing, to oneself?So, if any choice is involved it is by a higher aspect, and not by us per se.I have learned this most hard lesson totally separate from any Bible teachings and strictly by virtue of my ribald experiences with many good hearted others also so troubled.The problem with life is, someone forgot to give us the manual.In my experience, this is deliberate.Everyone who sees the light of 'goodness', who wants to 'wake up' and become more conscious and evolve, must work this out for themselves.One highly successful key to reprogramming the spiritual hardware that works much better than prayer is affirmations.“I am loved and I am worthy. I am safe and I am free. I am powerfully protected. I am master of my body and ruler of my mind.”These present tense commands work well in the astral, and anywhere else and when they work,show that you are in touch with your higher self.Affection,Yours,in Christ,Paul Schroeder
Suit up, show up and leave the end results in God's hands. In times of trouble I love Matthew Chapter 5. God bless, Your mother in law.Hi Linda,
Thank you for your comments. Do I have to wear a tie?
Blessings,
Mark
THIS IS A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR ME.
IF JOB, A MAN GOD TESTIFIES HIS UPRIGHTNESS COULD GO THROUGH THIS, I SHOULD THANK GOD FOR WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH AND RATHER GET CLOSER TO MY MAKER.
I KNOCKED SOMEONE DOWN WITH MY CAR A DAY AFTER MY BIRTHDAY AND GOT ARRESTED BY THE POLICE THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK I LOST MY JOB BECAUSE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD NOT BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN MY PORTFOLIO AS A CREDIT OFFICER. I WAS ARRESTED AND WENT THROUGH A LOT OF BAD TREATMENTS THEN MY FIANCEE CAME TO INFORM ME SHE IS PREGNANT AND THE FATHER REQUEST THAT I GO AND PERFORM THE MARRIAGE RITES. I WAS DEVASTATED WITH THESE HAPPENINGS.
I LOST EVERYTHING INCLUDING TRUST, RESPECT, MY JOB, MY CAR, FRIENDS
AND EVEN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ALL WITHIN THREE WEEKS. I ALMOST COMMITTED SUICIDE BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I THOUGHT LIFE HAS ENDED AND IT'S FINISHED.
I THANK GOD THAT HE DID NOT ALLOW THE DEVIL TO TRIUMPH OVER ME. EVEN THOUGH, ISSUES ARE PHYSICALLY UNRESOLVED, I BELIEVE I HAVE ALREADY WON AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS BEEN RESTORED AND EVEN MADE STRONGER.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD. I LOVE ROMANS 8:25-29
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