By God’s grace, even in such deep sorrow, I came to understand that God was faithful and worthy of my trust in this dark valley—whether he answered my plea or not. Christians, our hope must be in the God who answers prayer, not in the answer we think we want to our prayers.

Trials. A dreaded word when trouble surrounds us. Jesus warned his disciples they would have trouble. Then he encouraged them to take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). Fast forward two thousand years—ancient history has morphed into a modern society filled with innovation, technology, and ease. Christians today understand the difficulty of following Christ in this world. Though we recognize God uses suffering to sanctify his beloved children, we often need reminding that each trial is appointed for us by our heavenly Father for a greater purpose.

Recently as I walked through a season of difficulty, these words of the Apostle Peter were a balm to my soul: “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Pet. 4:19). As I meditated upon this verse and reflected upon past afflictions, the Lord taught me some valuable lessons. I pray these reflections encourage and help you as you journey through your own seasons of difficulty.

Trials Come from God

Though it’s hard to accept, Scripture is clear; it is God’s will for his people to suffer. Was there ever one who suffered as our Savior suffered? And by whose hand did that suffering come? Isaiah gives us a surprising answer: “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him” (Isa. 53:10). When we look past the great anguish of the cross, we find the immeasurable blessing that resulted from a suffering Messiah. God allows, and brings, trials into our lives for our good (Rom. 8:28).  As hard as they are, I’m comforted in knowing that tribulations have a divine purpose. Aren’t you? They are the means God has chosen to sanctify his beloved children. He is acquainted with our remaining sin and knows the precise dose of medicine needed to remove it. 

These insightful words of Amy Carmichael show us how God—the refiner—with great precision purifies his precious gold—his children:

““[The goldsmith] was sitting beside his little charcoal-fire. (“He shall sit as a refiner”: the gold-or silversmith never leaves his crucible once it is on the fire.) …and the goldsmith lifts the gold out with a pair of tongs, lets it cool, rubs it between his fingers, and if not satisfied puts it back again in fresh medicine. This time he blows the fire hotter than it was before, and each time he puts the gold into the crucible the heat of the fire is increased… “How do you know when the gold is purified?” we asked him, and he answered, “When I can see my face in it…then it is pure.”.”

— Amy Carmichael, Gold Cord: The Story of a Fellowship, 84

 

Remember Who God is

As we acknowledge that our difficulties are from God for our good, it is helpful to remember God’s character and the fact that he is our Creator. Does anyone know us as God does? He numbers the very hairs of our head. He perceives when we sit or lie down. Before a word is on our tongue, he knows it altogether (Ps. 139). If the sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground apart from Almighty God’s caring and providential hand, shouldn’t we be assured of his great care for us? When we are in the midst of a trial, we can often forget these truths. I know I can.

Several years ago, someone very dear to me who had grown up in the church and had been well taught in the ways of the Lord, began to walk on a wrong path. My heart ached for this young man’s sudden rejection of all he had believed. Day after day I cried out for his soul, for God to intervene. Months passed with no change.

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