God’s ways are not our ways [Isaiah 55:8]. For this reason, we often miss the lessons He is aiming to teach us through the various circumstances we encounter in life. Simply put: Pressure perfects. God often uses the trials that we despise, to refine our faith. God is after our maturity and our conformity to Christ in this life, while we are so often after control and comfort. We must remember that God’s ways are not our ways [Isaiah 55:8].
We have heard the phrase, “Don’t pray for patience, or you’ll get situations that try you.” Well, this way of working is not just limited to patience. I have found that God has grown me in diligence by giving me more to manage, not less. We tend to think the easier the better, but that is not always true. Difficulties help us to grow.
Pressure perfects.
David, the Psalmist, encountered many, many different life circumstances. From overlooked brother, to anointed king [in the midst of his brethren!]. From tending to the sheep to tending to the emotional needs of the king. From being in the king’s graces, to running for his life from the same king! Through it all, David did not turn from His God. In the midst of all his experiences, including his failures, he continued to turn to God.
In Psalm 119:71 he pens:
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
Is that our response to affliction? Is that your response to affliction?
Let’s consider Job’s response to his extreme anguish in Job 13:15a:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:”
These verses allow us to witness that suffering and trust can exist simultaneously in our lives and in our hearts. This is why it is important for the Christian to spend time in God’s Word. Through the scriptures we are able to learn God’s ways, as well as man’s proper response to God’s way of doing things.
I Peter advises us that we may encounter heaviness through various temptations for a season, if need be [I Peter 1:6]. Key phrase:
“if need be”
God knows what we need. We must humble ourselves to His sovereign will in our lives, read His scriptures to grow in wisdom and understanding, and pray for the strength to carry our cross and yield to His working through it all.
The apostle Paul provides insight that we can draw from when we find ourselves under various pressures:
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Philippians 4:11
Key word:
“learned”
There are some things that we must learn, and much of our learnings will come through difficulties. Certainly, not all learning will require affliction, but when we consider some of the big lessons we’ve learned in life, the ones that really stuck, were often ones we had to really feel.
Considering Philippians 4:11, there is only one true way to learn how to be content with little- learning how to be content with little. Simply written, but much more difficult to live. However, as we read on, we also read:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13
It is through these difficulties we face that we learn that on our own, we cannot; but with Christ, we can.
What pressures are you facing? What trials are weighing you down?
I pray that you will take the time to view them through a scriptural lens. What may God be aiming to teach you through your trials? What is He desiring to perfect in you? For we know that He will perfect that which concerneth us [Psalm 138:8].
No matter what we face in life, may we find strength, wisdom, and encouragement in His Word. May God empower us to trust Him, in spite of what we face, with hopeful anticipation of Him working it all for good! [Romans 8:28].
Be blessed and encouraged in God, remembering that pressure perfects!
With love,
Read Why Do We Fight?
