Guatemala video

Trials part 2... why trials?

WHY TRIALS?

So we covered what trials are, but why are we faced with trials! After this study, I hope that you will look at trials differently. They’re not as bad as they really seem. And looking at them differently, through God’s eyes they become bearable.  The verses referenced in this study are James1:1-10, Psalms 27:13, and Job 23:10.

Trials are not meant for us to suffer for the sake of suffering. Their sole purpose is to teach us to reach out to God, and to become dependent on him. Through Him our weakness will be made strong, the unimaginable will become imaginable, the impossible will become possible. 

CONSIDER THIS IN YOUR TRIALS:

  Consider your trials JOY (James 1:2). Joy isn’t something you have in your self. You are unable to be joyful on your own account. (Joy and happiness are 2 complete different things.) Joy can happen in all situations. Joy is a supernatural delight in the person, purpose and people of God. Happiness is circumstantial. For a Christian Life is about displaying the superiority of a life lived in God. When you are facing a trial I pray that you will ask yourselves these 4 questions. I know it will cause you to look at life differently. It has helped me look at the trials I’m currently facing in a whole new way. And it will further advance the kingdom of God!!!

1. What is happening to me? Is it a trial or a consequence? With out determining the difference you will never be able to grow through a trial or repent and get out of the consequence.
2. Why am I here on earth?
3. How can this trial advance that purpose?
4. What can I do this moment to display the superiority of God?

WHAT DO YOUR TRIALS PRODUCE?

Trials produce staying power (or steadfastness) James 1:3.

If faith were to have a final exam, imagine these three questions:

1. Do you believe God is in control?
2. Do you believe God is good, and that his purpose is good (Psalms 27:13)
3. Will you wait on God by faith until the darkness becomes light?

These questions may be easy head answers. But when it comes down to practicing them on a daily basis it’s really hard. In my head I know that God is good, and his purpose is good, but I have a hard time living in wait for God to show me his plan and purpose. The original translation of steadfastness, endurance, perseverance and patience literally means to remain under. There are 4 alternatives that we can choose instead of demonstrating steadfastness. 

1. We can complain against God
2. We can lash out at others
3. We can bail, declaring “I didn’t sign up for this!”
4. We can fold, collapsing without benefiting from the trial. 

Let’s face it. We’ve all done this at some point in our life. (Even if it is in hiding. On the outside making it looks as though we are dealing with the trial but mentally and spiritually we have given up.) HOW CAN YOU EVER EXPECT TO GROW FROM TRIALS BY GIVING UP!!!  God would not have put us through this trial if we could not handle it. Granted we are not meant to handle it alone. We are meant to rely on God, lean on his shoulder for strength to complete this, and through the trial he will complete the good work he has started in you!!! Job 23:10 says: He knows the way I take and when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold!... But how are we going to come forth as gold without being put through the fire and with standing it! We will come out on the other side pure and holy! Just as God wants us to be! That’s encouragement enough to stand firm!

Trials also produce life transformation! (James 1:5-6)

We will become perfect and complete lacking nothing!!! When it comes to wisdom:

1. Ask God. Ask and you shall receive. 
2. Make sure you really want to know, without having any conditions. God isn’t going to give you wisdom if it’s not what you really want. Imagine this… I want to know the answer to a certain situation only if the out come goes like this… God loves us unconditionally, when we ask him for something it should be asked without doubting and without conditions, and we should really want to know the answer. 
3. When pursuing wisdom, beware of double-mindedness. (James 1:8)

If you lack wisdom in the trial, God will answer the personal why. But this requires TOTAL SUBMISSION TO GOD!!! When we are stubborn, doubting, or placing the blame elsewhere we are just prolonging the process. 

I know this is helping me get through my trials, and I know that by looking at them this way God will help you over come your trials too. I don’t feel strong enough to handle my trials; I’m moving to a different country, living on my own away from my parents and all that makes me feel safe. This is something I have never done. Not even when I went away to school. I stayed close enough to home that I could come home every weekend, work, have home cooked meal, see my family and do laundry. I won’t have that in Guatemala and it terrifies me. But I also know that this is right where God wants me and he will help me endure it! I’ll be living with a family I never met, and if this isn’t hard enough we won’t even speak the same language. I’ll be leaving my grandpa who might not even remember me when I get back. He has advanced stages of dementia and barely remembers who I am now. Although I get caught up in all of this and it causes me to be emotionally and mentally exhausted and ready to give up, I know that God is in control and the only way I will get through this is through his help! That is why I am confident these couple posts on trials will help you, because they have helped and are helping me cope with these terrifying hard times in my life!

My first trip to Guatemala was spent doing construction at a local school, The trench was hand dug, the rebar was hand twisted.. Tough work!

The cement was hand mixed on the ground, from one pile to the next and back again until it was fully mixed. 

Then the water was added.. My favorite part because you stood around until enough water had been added, then into the trench it went. 

Then it was play time with the kids. They love clowns so anything to do with clowns was the best thing that could possibly happen. 

I hope your all enjoying these!