Victory Through Trials

Scripture:  Colossians 2:15 - Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Storms and floods are often likened in Scripture and in Christian hymns to trials and adversities—and for good reason!  When you’re going through them and they appear to be intensifying to the point where your heart cries out to your Lord, ‘How LONG?  When is this going to END, Lord?’ no one needs to give us a sermon at such times about pursuing God with truly fervent prayer, do they?  The need, the psychological hurt, or physical pain is intensely real, and the Spirit’s words hit like paydirt!  These observations being true, how should we respond when fiery trials hit us? First of all, we’re told to not marvel at their occurrence, because, truthfully, we’re either coming out of a trial or about to enter one! (Can I get an ‘Amen?’)  Should we give way to fretting, murmuring, or complaining to God?  He is, after all, the One who allows such times in His sovereignty.  God says in James 1:2 that He has spiritually enriching purposes in the trials He allows us to undergo, because in His faithfulness, He is very much in the heart-REFINING business.  Sometimes we ourselves are the direct cause of our personal hardships.  Either way, no matter the cause, we can triumph through tough challenging times by maintaining the godly perspectives demonstrated by Christ Jesus, our victorious Lord! (1 Peter 2:23)
   
As today’s scripture passage reminds us, Jesus disarmed the demonic powers, spotlighting them for what they were by responding to them as His Father had assigned Him to do--never returning reviling for reviling, but, instead, praying for them, even from a cruel and horrifically unjust cross! Why do we marvel at all over being mistreated sometimes?  Our Father sees the wrong things people do against us!  Our response MUST be to quickly forgive them, as our Lord forgives us, and remember His command to leave vengeance in His hands; He will repay!  (Romans 12:19) This type of obedience on our part leads us, also, to triumphing over the Adversary of our soul!    

Prayer:  Dear Abba, thank You for showing us by Your example how our trials and struggles can be used by You as precise spirit-refining tools, that transform us increasingly into Your image before a watching world--if we are lovingly obedient!  Help us, LORD!  In Christ’s name—Amen!
 
(by Sis. Denise Diggs)