Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 NLT
Ominous clouds
threatened as my wife and I eased into the parking space. We did not expect the unexpected.
Hot, humid
weather had peppered the previous week. Pop-up showers increased by the day. But on one particular evening, I had a wedding to officiate. A few
rain showers had already passed by earlier in the afternoon, and I hoped for fair weather since the reception was outside.
Shortly after we
pulled into our parking space, large pellets of rain began to fall. As the
winds increased, I anxiously watched the reception tent. Although a few odds and
ends blew away, most things stayed in place. They had expected the unexpected.
The tent was securely staked. Long, heavy tablecloths clung to the tables.
Wrapped utensils kept the napkins from blowing away. Apart from a bit of trash
and dirt blown in by the wind, the reception went on as usual despite the
earlier storm.
Peter speaks of
another type of storm: persecution. And early believers were facing their share
of it. They might have been surprised, but they shouldn’t have been. After
all, Jesus had been persecuted and told them they would be as well.
When we remember
the impact of sin on people and the world in general, we will no longer be surprised
by the trials we face. People infected by sin will behave in harmful ways.
Sinful natures are responsible for physical and verbal abuse, crimes of all
sorts, divorce, financial mismanagement, and elder abuse. The list is endless.
The infection of sin can also make nature misbehave. Tsunamis, hurricanes,
tornadoes, floods, etc.
But not all
trials are caused by sin or sinful people. As long as they don’t violate God's nature, God, too, can send trials. The Bible is adorned with stories that show how he did just that. The difference is that God’s trials are beneficial. When we respond to them with a positive attitude and draw closer to him for wisdom
and guidance, we grow spiritually, and our faith is enhanced. Remaining in a close
relationship with Christ helps us survive and even thrive when the unexpected
comes along.
Don’t let the
unexpected blow you away. Remain grounded in Christ.
Father,
when the trials of life come, may I find my anchor in you.
I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.