Finding Treasures in the Trials!

“For thou hast been a STRENGTH to the poor, a STRENGTH to the needy in his distress, a REFUGE from the storm, a SHADOW from the heat…” Isaiah 25:4

Trials are definitely not something looked forward to or welcomed with a smiling face in the life of the believer. However, if we would seek to search for the treasures within them, I know we would find them as awesome opportunities for growing to know our God better! For you see if it wasn’t for the storm, we would never know what secure REFUGE our Savior is! If it wasn’t for our weakness, we would never understand or appreciate His STRENGTH! If it wasn’t for the flaming fire and unbearable heat, we would never know the comforting protection of His SHADOW! Truly gold does not shine at it’s brightest until it has been tried in the fire. 1 Peter 1:7 says “That the trial of your faith, being MUCH MORE PRECIOUS than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ;” Even though we may not see the benefits while we’re in the midst of the flame, we can know that God has an awesome purpose for it! Just as the gold’s dross is refined through the flame, so is our Christian character! After going through the trial, we are a SHINING testimony to the goodness of a God who allowed us to go through it instead of around it. Surely through doesn’t seem like a good choice at the time! It seems like going around it would be quicker and A LOT less painful, and it probably would! But God sees the treasures we can acquire by going through it!

Just as the children of Israel were led through the wilderness and not around it so that they could see God’s amazing miracles, we are led through the wildernesses of our lives that we might see His work  and enjoy His presence in a greater way! It may seem easier to grow bitter as the Israelites did, but God wants us to use the trial to be better for Him! It’s true that the distance from Egypt to the Promised Land was a short one, but God chose to keep them there for 40 years in order to teach them much about Himself! Exodus chapter 13 verses 17-18 tell us…”And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEAR; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, THROUGH the way of the wilderness of the Red sea…” God chose to take them THROUGH, though it took 40 years! God is willing to do whatever it takes to make us more profitable servants!

Think of what they would’ve missed if they hadn’t gone through the wilderness! They wouldn’t have seen the Red Sea parted, feasted on quail and manna, or known the incredible faithfulness of their God! Think back over the trials of your life and the wonderful treasures you found within them! Though the trials themselves were painful, we find that they are extremely profitable in bringing wonderful treasures to light in our lives! May each trial be an opportunity to bring “praise and honor and glory” to our Savior and enable us to know Him better!

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

2 Corinthians 4:17