Editorial
Dear Readers,
Had any problems or troubles lately?
I trust that your answer to the question is yes—not because I wish ill to any of you, but because it is an essential part of life, and more particularly, the life of a child of God. Let us first consider a few scriptures on the part trials play in the life of God’s people.
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
“Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” (Psalm 17:3)
In the midst of their trials both Job and David were inspired by this thought, that this was a test God allowed that they could pass, and they intended to pass. Let’s not waste too much energy on the details of their trials, and speculate how we would do in like situation. We all are different, and what is extremely difficult for one person to bear may be relatively easy for another, and the positions of the two people may be reversed in a different type of trial. The Lord knows how to test us, and gives us tests that challenge us but that we can pass if we intend to pass with His grace. Maybe it’s a better test for us to have to watch someone we love suffer, or maybe it’s a better test for us to suffer. Maybe it’s a better test for us to have a long string of “small” difficulties, or maybe it’s a better test for us to have a single, big one. In any case, whatever ill the devil intends for us and hurls our way, the Lord has the knowledge, skill and power to transform it by the time it reaches us to something that is a good test for us, that will also bring good results for us.
“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.” (Psalm 66:10)
Any metal is refined from its ore with heat, and the process of converting it to something useful varies according to the use to which it will be put. In the book The Fields of Home, Ralph Moody is taught by his grandpa that the metal must be heated to different colors (representing different degrees of heat) depending on what it is being shaped for. Every true child of God is given the trials the Lord is allowing our way because they are necessary to shape us and strengthen us for the use He would put us to, and for what lies ahead for each one of us.
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12)
There is an old saying, “Where there is smoke, there’s fire.” We could say with even greater certainty that “Where there is a trial, there’s a blessing!” It is possible for us to miss it, but if we turn to the Lord in our trials, we will certainly obtain a blessing, for whether it pertains to the big picture (“when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life”) or the individual trial, the process is meant for our good, and is necessary for us to obtain many benefits and much preparation that we could not possibly obtain any easier way.
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 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 honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
May the Lord help us to grasp the vision! There are precious things involved here, exceedingly precious! Yes, I have many times (and expect to many more times) experienced “heaviness through manifold temptations”; and I have felt the heat, sometimes again and again and again in a similar manner, and other times a variety of different ways, but all of it is designed to test and improve my faith, that it “might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Amen, Lord. Keep preparing me!
Wishing you the best of trials,
The Editor