1. GOD KNOWS ALL THAT ENTERS OUR LIVES
"He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
"I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities." Psalm 31:7
"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in Him." Nahum 1:7
God loves us in spite of what we are, and in spite of our sins.
"O LORD thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine upraising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou has beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. " Psalm 139:1-5
God knows our needs long before we do. He is never surprised. Problems are allowed into our life by God for our good and for His glory.
"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." I Thessalonians 3:3, 4.
2. GOD CARES
God wants us to know that He cares for us in every trial and in every sorrow. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore will we not fear ....." Psalm 46:1, 2
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; ...... my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." I Peter 5:7
3. GOD IS ABLE
People may know and care, but only God is able. How able is God? "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not." Jeremiah 33:3
"He will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14
"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:15
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Ephesians 3:20
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."
II Corinthians 9:6-11
4. GOD HAS A PURPOSE
God has never done anything without a purpose.
Question: What are some of God's purposes for allowing trials and testings to enter our lives?
Answer:
a) To draw us to Christ as Saviour. As long as things run smoothly most adults are complacent and see no need for Christ.
b) To prove His sufficiency. When we give our problems to God, we get what God can do. "Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 108: 12,13
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings". Jeremiah 17: 5-10.
God allows adversity that we might be aware of our need for Him.
c) For God and His glory. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
We must praise God when shattering things come into our lives because God is going to teach us something of His greatness.
d) To draw us to God's Word and to Prayer. "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
Question: When testings come, where do we turn for help?
Answer: God's Word.
Question: When do we mean business most in prayer?
Answer: When the pressure is great and the heart is heavy. Jesus Christ is far more precious when we've been through trials, and watched Him deliver us as we trust Him.
"I walked a mile with pleasure
She chatted all the way
But not a thing I learned from her
For all she had to say
I walked a mile with sorrow
and not a word said she
But oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me."
Question: When have you learned the most?
Answer: When sorrows came.
Question: How are we going to know that we have a God who is faithful?
Answer: By going through testings
Question: How did Daniel know that he had a God who shut lion's mouths?
Answer: By experiencing the trial of it, and seeing God give the victory.
We need to know this
We need to say with authority
"God will bring you through
I tested Him and He brought me through.
I'm convinced He can bring you through."
Question: Why did Job go through all that trouble?
Answer: To be an example for our learning.
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4.
