Trials and Temptations

James 1: 2-4

2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3: because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4: Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Everyone has to pass through a lot of trials and temptations, in our lives. Trials come because God wants to shape us into HIS image. Temptations come Because Satan wants to trick us and take us away from God and enslave us to him. James 1: 13-15; 13: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;

There comes the Word of God, which we try to obey and there comes Satan in the form of selfishness, pride, lust or even as advice from the worldly people - probing us to use our rational thinking rather than trusting in God's Word. When we give in to the temptation that the devil brings,  we disobey GOD'S Word and we fall into sin. The devil knows that if he keeps us from obeying GOD'S Word, he would successfully keep us away from God - and that is his only intention. Trials on the other hand, is brought by God, to diminish our "self", to refine us, to increase our faith, hope and love and to mold us into a master piece that God wants us to be. So each trial or temptation that we face in our life - is a test in which we must pass by relying on God. Trials and temptations are good because we grow and we level up in our spiritual walk with Christ. If there were no tests, we would have stagnation in our Christian walk. By what we learn by going through our tests, God shapes us to be the person HE wants us to be! Many a times, when our "self" is being arrogant, God gives a blow because HE loves us too much and can't bear it if we go away from HIM! Whatever we may be going through now, it is only to mold us into the better "us" and in the end, we would be moving closer and closer to God, passing each test by complete reliance on God! So, if we are in a phase of life where God seems to be dealing with our "self" (all our endeavors might be failing, our self-confidence might get too low because of our poor accomplishments, our life might altogether be dull and monotonous with no defined purpose) - Whatever it is - let us accept GOD'S dealing because it will help us in becoming more reliant on God, more gentle, more patient, more Loving - Which are the characteristics that God loves to see in us! Trials alone can refine us and cleanse our hearts of selfish, proud or lustful motives and thoughts. When our "self" gets emptied as we walk through the trials, GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT can work more in us and God takes complete charge of our life - and we would be gradually moving towards our divine destiny -which is GOD'S will for our lives!

 

  During our temptations, let us rely on God for HE alone can help us win. During our trials and refinement, let us stay calm and accept GOD'S divine intervention, which will transform us into GOD'S chosen vessels!