“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice.” - 1 Peter 4:12-13

    If God has given you the privilege and opportunity to go through difficult and heavy trials, then you ought to make the most of that privilege and opportunity to glorify Him by being in subjection to Him, because it might only happen once in a lifetime.

    We don’t desire to have severe trials nor do we pray for them. I don’t know what I would do should a severe trial come my way.

    But I know what I ought to do!

    I ought to bless, thank, and worship God because it came from God!

    And I ought to conduct myself in such a way under this difficulty that the people of God, who love me and who I love, would say, “This thing called grace really works!”

    In my experience I have seen so many people that had the opportunity and privilege afforded them by the hand of God to react during trial in such a manner that would display what they say they have experienced, and they miss that opportunity.

    It’s one thing to talk of Calvinism, it’s one thing to talk of how sovereign God is, but it’s another thing to actually submit ourselves to the Lord of sovereignty!

“Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” - Job 14:1

    We are going to have troubles and trials in this sin cursed world. But when God sends the difficulties, let us act like men and women who believe in, and submit to the God who is sovereign. Let’s display the grace of God.

    Let’s remain faithful to the public worship of God. Let’s remain faithful to the Gospel. Let’s remain faithful to the people of God.

    Let’s not drop our witness but show that this grace is real and it really works!

    Let’s show people that we love and worship God in the storm as well as in the sunshine.

    We should all commit our spouse to death, commit our children and relatives to death, so that when God takes them we can act like men and behave as though we knew it was going to happen, and glorify our sovereign God by a strong and faithful witness.

    And that faithfulness and witness will HELP ENCOURAGE AND EXHORT OTHER BELIEVERS!

    Always remember that God is the first cause of all things!