Words vs Trials or, I Stand Corrected

How Grandma loved the Lord Jesus! So it was only natural that many of our conversations centered on Him. I can remember the day she looked at me, all starry eyed, the way she looked when she was about to share something wonderful about Him, and said, "Janinita, I want to go through every trial and hardship that He wants me to go through."

My eyes widened in horror. "No, Grandma, you mustn't say that!"

I loved Jesus, too, but there were some things with which I was at variance with Grandma. I had cut my spiritual teeth under the teaching of the popular faith doctrine, part of which emphasized the importance of our words. For example, Jesus told His disciples, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith" (Mark 11:23). There are many other scriptures that are aligned with the precept expressed in these words, precepts such as: life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), God promises to create the fruit of our lips (Isaiah 5:19), it is through our words that confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). Clearly, God places much stock in—and makes much use of—our words.

While I didn't embrace the belief that because of this it is a veritable sin to say something silly in play, I did believe that I could very well speak trouble into my life be voicing words along the lines of Grandma's. After all, didn't Job say, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me" (Job 3:25)? Had he voiced his fears? He certainly acted on them, frenetically sacrificing daily in a vain plea to keep his children safe. I did not think it farfetched to think he might have given voice to his fears and, through his words, unwittingly made a path for them to be brought to fruition.

But I couldn't shake Grandma from her stance. Decades later, though, I have asked the Lord to let her know in Heaven that I apologize. Now I know she was right.

First, it has finally dawned on me that when I am greatly pressed down with the weight of a problem, my prayers are deliciously intense. It sounds counterintuitive, but reaching out to God in trouble makes me feel His presence, His love, the verity of His promises, to a degree unattainable when all the breezes blow as sweet as in an oasis (Psalm 34:18, among others). There is a definitive spiritual growth attained only through trials.

Second, I finally came to the realization that, contrary to the terror that strikes the heart of the believer who thinks voicing anything negative gives it free reign in their life, there is a place close to God that can only be achieved through trials.

There are many passages that say we must needs go through trials here in this world. Paul has four "faithful sayings" in his writings, the second of which is found in 2 Timothy 2:12. It reads, "It is a faithful saying—if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him." Are we going to reign with Him? Revelation 20:6 and others aver that we will. So, as says Paul, the converse must be true. If we are to reign with Christ, we must also suffer with Him here in this world. Even Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). A true disciple of Jesus will have trials to overcome, regardless of his faith-filled words.

Yes, our words are important. Yes, we should speak to our situations and body words of life. But we should not confuse trials with lack of faith or the fruit of ill advised words. What God has determined (this includes trials in our life) shall come to pass (Ezekiel 12:25). While the enemy might attack our bodies and life and we should stand up to Him with God's Word, even as our Lord did, when it comes to trials, the truth is, they are a tool used by God to perfect us, strengthen us, and make us more like Him.

Why trials? That's grounds for another blog. Suffice to say that if good King Hezekiah had embraced the word of the Lord spoken to him through a prophet, he would have set his house in order and died at the time ordained by God. Instead of embracing this "hardship," though, he whined and begged God for more time. God heard his cry, gave him 15 more years. And we got to see the evil that came about from his trying to avoid what he considered a hard thing. It was in those added years that he had his son Manasseh, the most wicked king of Judah. Because of Manasseh, the blood of innocents ran in the streets. Because one man fought against the trial of death. We might not understand the why and whereto of a trial, but be assured. God has a plan and His plan is best (Genesis 50:20).

James, known as "James the Just," the brother of Jesus who held a prominent position in the early church, wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2). The Greek word for "temptations" here is peirasmos, meaning a test, trial, or enticement to sin. Dear Grandma. She was merely reiterating James's words, and for this I wrongly rebuked her.

Now, finally, I, too, say, "Lord, help me go through whatever You have ordained for me in my life. Help me to grow the way You want me to." 

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12-13).