God's Wisdom in Hard Trials

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Jas 1:2–3 NIV

How can you find joy in very hard situations? When God deals with your situation, you will be happy about it. It is a challenge to be happy in advance, very hard.

Corrie Ten Boom was in Ravensbrück concentration camp with her sister Betsie because they had spared Jews in Holland.

It was terribly cold in winter and they were hungry. They were also itchy because of all the bedbugs.

They hated the bedbugs, but they wanted to obey God. They read in the Bible that they must be thankful in all circumstances.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Th 5:18 NLT

They forced themselves to thank God for the bedbugs. Then they realised that the cruel guards usually didn't bother them in the dormitory because they also hated the bedbugs.

In difficult trials, God wants to help us to gain new insights, but this is often not easy. We must often resist our tendency to fear and bitterness.

In the Middle East, many Muslims are converting to Jesus. For hardcore Muslims, this is a terrible crime that deserves the death penalty.

There were some ex-Muslims in prison because of their conversion to Jesus, where they were brutally beaten daily.

After a few months they realised that they had not forgiven their tormentors. They must simply forgive, but it was very difficult. They resolved to forgive as Jesus did on the cross.

When they then began to pray for their tormentors with new hearts, a miracle happened. They were freed from prison.

Are you being bullied in your family? Or at work, or in your church?

How can you pray? You need wisdom from God.

Is your boss cruel? Should you stay and learn patience, or look for another job?

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Jas 1:5 NIV