Sunday Blogvotional: The Benefit of Trials

Nobody likes trials.  Pain is pain and nobody wants to go through it. Regardless of whether or not we want to have trials in our lives, they will inevitably come our way.  Sometimes they come in big hurricane sized storms and sometimes merely in the rain. 

Trials, however, do have their benefits.  Growth, for one, occurs when we experience the growing pains of trials.  And unless your goal is to stagnate in life and in your faith, growth is desired.  Trials also have the uncanny ability to reveal our true character and beliefs. 

John Ortberg says in his book "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat", that our hearts our revealed and our character is forged when life doesn't go the way we planned.  He also says "It is in the act of facing the storm that you discover what lies inside you and decide what lies before you." 

Yes, trials can be painful but they can also be beneficial.  It's through them we discover who we truly are and how deep the well of our faith is.   Without them we have no way of truly knowing our strength in Christ. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

Encouragement for the week: When you go through a trial try to look past the present pain in order to see the future glory.  Even when it's hard to feel and remember this: God will never forsake you, hold tight to this truth and His glory will be revealed in you.