Trials Aren't Just For O.J.

I recently heard a very interesting message from one of my favorite pastors, Jentezen Franklin, and he made a statement that literally made my thought processes stop in their tracks:

“God is more interested in developing your character than fixing your problems.”

Wow. That’s a pretty healthy smack in the face, especially when you may be going through some tough times right now.

He was trying to drive home the reality that the intervention God provides in our daily lives has more to do with how we handle situations than the situations themselves. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… we aren’t just puppets in this world and God doesn’t just control all the world’s circumstances like some holy Wii-playing deity.

Is He in complete control…absolutely. Does He allow the turn of events—good and bad—to happen every day…absolutely. To understand the “why’s” and the “what-for’s” is completely beyond our comprehension and this is where our faith needs to kick into high gear. Good things happen to bad people; bad things happen to good people. There’s a divine omnipotence at play and we’ll just have to wait until we’re face to face with the Almighty to ask Him about it.

Back to the message, though. The tests and trials we all go through are inevitable. We need to realize these are opportunities to become stronger, better and wiser; not become down-trodden and feel like a victim. With God’s grace and faithfulness we need to take whatever is going on in our lives and ask God to bless it. That doesn’t mean it will go away; it may not even get better. But God can, and does, bless the situation even if we can’t understand it at the time. This is “developing your character rather than fixing your problems.”

When we go through tough times we learn more about ourselves and more about God than if we had never gone through them. We just don’t realize the fullness of God’s attributes until we experience certain trials. When we get sick, we begin to see God as the Healer; when we lose a job, we begin to see God as the Provider; and on and on it goes. Our eyes become open to a greater, more nurturing, more awesome God as we endure life and all it throws at us. When we build up our personal relationship with Him, He smiles and is pleased.

”Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NIV

Blessings on you all.

Greg Morton
© June 25, 2009