Trials and Tribulations

 Topic

Trials and Tribulations

Question 

What does the Bible say about trials and tribulations in this world? How can we stay firm in the faith during challenging times?

Answer

1. Condition of man - Trials and tribulations are the natural consequence of just being born into this fallen, depraved world. Job 5:7, Romans 8:20-22, John 16:33

Being a Christian does nor exempt us from this situation. We are still fallen but redeemed. Sin still has its mark on us and the world. What is different is that we have a power (the Holy Spirit) within us that transforms us and will strengthen us, unlike the natural man who does not have this power. 

2. God is Sovereign -  Despite what happens to us in the world, God is in control of all of it, whether good or bad. He creates it or allows it, whether it is from Satan or not. Isaiah 45:7, John 16:33, Psalms 65:7, Amos 3:6

3. Why God is using the trials and tribulations in our lives - 

• To discipline us - proof that he loves us - making us better (mature). Heb. 12:7-11

• To produce perseverance and proven character and hope. (Looking up - future home, body, kingdom)  Romans 5:2; 8:18-25

• To produce endurance which results in being perfect and complete (mature).  

James 1:2-4 

4. How is God using these in our lives and how do we stay strong and faithful? 

• Trials and tribulation create in us the souring for this world and a longing for the one to come. Heb. 12:2-3, 1 Corinth. 9:24

• Trials and tribulation provide the opportunity to reveal to the world another way of handling things and to manifest (show) God! 

• There must be trouble, or there can be no demonstration. Paul breaks the trials and tribulations down into four practical categories. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

• Afflicted - Normal irritations of life everyone faces (washing machine breaks, flat tire, rains on day off, dog gets sick on carpet, traffic is worse than normal, etc)

• Perplexed - Situations where you do not know what to do, are uncertain why, and find it difficult to decide. Don’t understand what to do or to say. 

• Persecuted - Intended offenses because of who you are, ostracisms, cold shoulders, snide remarks, personal and bodily attacks, torture and death.

• Struck down - Stunning, shattering blows which seem to come out of the blue - which can leave us frightened and baffled. Cancer, fatal accidents, war, earthquakes, insanity, riots, heart attacks, etc. 

• But notice the difference. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

                        There is a power within, a transcendent power, different from anything else, which keeps pushing back with greater pressure against whatever comes from without, so that we are not crushed, despairing, forsaken, or destroyed.

• “But not crushed!” 

• “But not driven to despair!”

• “But not forsaken!”

• “But not destroyed!”

• HOW IS THIS DONE? - in two steps  2 Corinthians 4:10-11

1. “Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so the life of Jesus may also be manifest (shown) in our bodies” - inner attitude to which we must consent. (active tense)

2. “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested (shown) in our mortal bodies” - an outer circumstance into which we are placed. (passive tense - done to us)

1. “In our body” means now, not some future time in heaven. 

2. The death of Jesus put to death the old man (Adam) in us (our flesh, our desires, thoughts, ego, dreams) so His life (resurrected life) can take over.  

3. The resurrected life of Jesus within us (HS) wants to manifest (show itself)  through the circumstances (trials & tribulations that we find ourselves in. 

This relates to the Sovereignty of God - HE is always placing us in situations and circumstances, placing us around people, allowing things (trials & tribulations) to happen, so that He can use us to reveal Himself, and make us more like His Son.