“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV)
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)
All of us humans are going to face trials of various kinds in our lives while we live on this earth. But for those of us who serve the Lord Jesus with our lives, these trials serve a good purpose. For through our trials and the things that we suffer in this life, including persecutions for our walks of faith in the Lord Jesus, our faith is being tested. And the purpose of that is so that it will produce steadfastness of faith in practice in our everyday lives.
For the more we are tested, the more we learn to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ and not on ourselves, and the more that we learn to draw on him and his support to make it through each day in order that we might do his will and not succumb to the temptations in this world. For through our sufferings we learn more and more how much we need the Lord and how important it is that we follow him every step of the way, and not our own flesh.
And through what we suffer we also learn endurance and we grow in becoming like Jesus Christ in character. For the more that our flesh is put to death, the more like Christ we will become, and the more that we will want to serve him with our lives and to be his witnesses in sharing the truth of the gospel with as many people as we are able. For our Lord disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness and in his righteousness.
So our suffering, though painful, is really for our good, although it may not feel good when we are going through it. But honestly, without it, we can become selfish and self-sufficient and not serious about our walks of obedience to the Lord. Suffering has a way of purifying us and making us more useful for the Master’s work. And it will make us more zealous for doing the work of the Lord, and more passionate about obedience to God.
And when we go through suffering, it should make us more compassionate towards others who are suffering to where we will want to share with them the comfort and encouragement that we received from the Lord during our suffering. But that may not all be “feel good” stuff, for this includes holy urging of others to walk in obedience to the Lord and to not revert to walking in darkness and in rebellion and for selfish desire.
So let your suffering be for your good. Look to the Lord. Seek his face. Ask him what he wants to teach you and how he wants to change you and to use you for his glory as a result of what you suffered. Allow the Lord to work in your heart and life to make you more like Jesus and to have a greater desire to serve the Lord in every way he has called you to serve him. And one day he will bring you to completion (perfection) when he takes you home.
For the end result of it all for those who love and obey the Lord, and who do not live to please themselves, is that we will receive the crown of life. We will not die a spiritual death as will those who do not follow the Lord in obedience but who continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord. But we will have life eternal with God when our salvation is complete when Jesus returns to take his faithful ones to be with him for eternity.
[Matt 5:10-12; Matt 10:16-25; Matt 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 12:49-53; Luke 21:12-19; John 15:1-21; John 16:33; John 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; Eph 6:10-20; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17; Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:17; Rev 13:1-18; Rev 14:1-13]
Not Be Silent
An Original Work / December 3, 2012
Based off Psalm 30
O Lord my God, I’ll exalt You.
I called for help,
And You healed me.
O Lord my God,
You brought me from the grave.
You spared me from hell.
Sing to the Lord, you saints of His;
Praise His holy name today.
Weeping may remain for a night;
Joy at break of day.
Our debt He did pay!
O Lord my God, I said, “I will
Ne’er be shaken.” Secure, I felt.
O Lord my God, You forgave me.
Confident I stand in You.
When I could not see
Your face I was dismayed.
I called to You. O Lord,
You are my help.
You were merciful to me;
By Your grace set free!
O Lord my God, I’m so thankful for
Salvation through my Jesus.
You turned wailing into dancing;
Clothed me with Your joy today,
That my heart may sing
To You and not be silent.
Praise Your name.
O Lord my God,
I will give you
thanks forevermore.
My Lord, I adore!
