03/06/2009
In the past five articles we have highlighted on how trials arise as a result of our mistakes and what needs to be done in that regard. In this article we will look at it from the perspective of trials arising when we are in God’s will.
When we are in God’s will and walking in obedience before Him, trials will come our way. As a matter of fact trials are more frequent to the godly than the ungodly. When trials come our way the first thing, we need to determine is whether we need to undergo those trials or do we need to resist them steadfast in faith?
In our modern Christian culture, any kind of suffering is resisted with vehemence. On the contrary, the apostles and the early church embraced suffering. On the other hand, there are certain trials that need to be resisted. As a songwriter put it best “Sometimes God calms the storm, other times he lets it rage and calms the child”.
Once we have determined whether we have to undergo the trial or resist it, we need to take the necessary steps in that regard respectively. If we have to undergo the trial, we need to yield our wills to Him and receive strength to walk through it just like Jesus did. If we have to resist the trials, there are several scriptural keys we can apply.
1) The story of Jehoshaphat-II Chronicles 20
Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming situation. He was greatly outnumbered by the opposing forces. There was no possibility of him winning the battle in the natural. It was in this place of crisis; he did several important things.
Firstly, he fasted and all of Judah with him (verse 3). Next, he put his dependence on God (verse 12). Thirdly he and the people believed the word of the Lord. Finally, they worshipped their way to victory.
If we are faced with an overwhelming situation in our lives, fasting and prayer might be the pathway to take. Fasting is a sign of humbling oneself before the Lord. It also brings our flesh under control that we can hear God clearly. In that place of humility, when we place our dependence on the Lord and wait on Him, He will surely answer us. As we put our faith in His word to us, praise and worship can bring the breakthrough we have been expecting.
In outlining these guidelines, it is not with the intent that these need to be followed to the detail as narrated here. However, it is so that we learn to value each of these truths and are established in them that the Spirit can lead us accordingly.
Fasting and prayer or worship by themselves are powerful tools when led by the Spirit.
2) David and the Ziklag loss –I Samuel 30
David and his men returned home after being sent back by the Philistines. To their horror and shock found that everything was destroyed. Not only that their wives and children were missing. To make things even worse, David’s own men were thinking of stoning him.
In this situation, David strengthened himself in the Lord (verse 6). He then enquired of the Lord (verse 8) and proceeded to do as the Lord had told him. He and his men were able to recover everything and even more.
Even in our lives there maybe times were the losses we face might overwhelm us. When that is the case our spirit man maybe weakened greatly. In situations like that we need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord first. Praying in the Spirit brings us strength. Fasting and seeking the Lord can also be a source of empowerment. Remembering the way God had brought us through trying times encourages us. Reminding ourselves of God’s promises strengthens us. We can even have people stand with us in prayer, a privilege that David didn’t have.
Once we have received that strength, we can proceed to ask God for counsel. If we don’t do the former first, we might not be able to discern God’s voice clearly when he speaks to us, or we might not have the strength to follow after the counsel God gives us.
If we strengthen ourselves in the Lord, we will do well.
After we have received counsel from the Lord, we need to follow it to see the necessary breakthrough.
