HIT, RUN and SCORE!
HIT with trials…
Have you ever been hit hard? I’m not necessarily talking about getting hit by a 65 miles per hour fastball. I’m asking if you have ever been hit with trials, difficult situations? I’ve just been informed of two tragic car accidents—one involving a softball player on the East Coast where the doctors say there is no sign of brain activity, and another on the West Coast who lost her sister to a drunk driver. Can you feel the blow to family members, friends, and teammates alike?!
In comparison to these tragedies, your blow may not be as severe. Nevertheless, we are all faced with many kinds of trials. Is there a relationship that has gone sour? Did your coach embarrass you in front of your teammates? Has an injury kept you out of the line-up? What hard or difficult situations are you currently facing? Write down the first two situations that come to mind?
RUN to the Word…
What do you do when you are hit with trials? Why would God allow you to experience these hard, and sometimes even bad circumstances? Let’s run to the Word of God to see what He says to us.
Read James 1:2-4. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
The Greek word for "trials" is peirasmos (pronounced pi-ras-mos). It means, "to put to the test."
- According to these verses, is anyone exempt from trials? Explain your answer.
- How does God want us to respond to our difficult situations? Does this surprise you?
- Why can we respond in this manner?
- When was the last time you considered it pure joy when you encountered hard times?
SCORING in daily living...
Not only can we expect trials, but we can also be joyful in them. Why? Because God is in control over everything that happens to us—even the bad things (Isaiah 14:24-27; Deuteronomy 32:39; Daniel 4:34,35). There is nothing in this universe that God does not have total, absolute, and complete control over. In other words, everything that happens to us must first be okayed by God. He uses these situations to test our faith—which is of greater worth than gold (1 Peter 1:3-7)—to see if it is real and to make us perfect and complete. Also, have you noticed that trials can show us in whom or what we are trusting?
- Think about the situations you listed above. In whom or what are you trusting?
- What do you think God may be doing in your life through these difficult times?
- Why can you rejoice in these circumstances?
- Will you choose to take on God’s perspective in your trial(s)? What changes need to take place in order for you to do this?
Lord Jesus, I thank you that you are the author and finisher of my faith. And just as You endured the cross, You will enable me to hold up under this trial. Thank You that in Your total, absolute, and complete control over everything, You have okayed this trial to put my faith to the test in order that I may see if it is real, genuine. I will consider this all joy because my trust is in You. Thank You that You will walk with me through this trial and see me through it. Thank You that You will use it to make me more like You.