What are trials? The original word for trial means: ‘A trial is a painful circumstance allowed by God to change my conduct and my character.’ To help us in our text here and to bring some clarity— my conduct is what I do; and to a deeper level, my character is who I am. Trials are about what God is adjusting in the actions I choose, and what God is doing to the character that helps me choose those actions. Several biblical terms for trials are actually interchangeable: suffering, hardship, tribulation, chastising, and discipline. Trials are indeed hard times in our life. These hard times vary both in intensity and duration. Tribulation can take you by storm, fast and furious, altering life forever. Or, a trial can stretch over months or years. A trial can be small and irritating or huge and shattering.
So what are trials? Hebrews 12.5-7 is a great place to start answering that question. “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”
The subject is discipline, a term that describes God’s involvement in the hardest part of your life. Discipline is training. It’s like parental instruction. Except in this case, He is a perfect Heavenly Father. A loving and wise parent knows their child will benefit from certain discomfort and pain. A child’s desires are no guide for healthy growth. The guide is the adult in the situation. As much as you don’t really want to hear this, we aren’t the adult in this, God is.
The real question isn’t what a trial is it’s— why am I going through this trial(s)? The one thing we know for sure about trials is— everyone experiences them. Secondly, for the Christian it’s different. In fact, if you’re one of God’s children, you’re going through a trial right now. There’s no doubt about it. In some size, some shape, and in some way, you are for sure in one. It’s the most difficult aspect of your life. Is it physical? Is it relational? Is it economic? Is it emotional? Is it circumstantial? Or, do you even realize you’re in one? Maybe you are in more than one at a time. God says— ‘I love you, so I’m putting you through what will bring the best out of you.’
When is all this going to end? Great question. When He saved us, He started the process He will continue until the day we die. It’s called “sanctification”. Philippians 1.6 says— “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” The Holy Spirit is the one working this out each and every day. Salvation is just the beginning folks. Trials mean God is working on you. That is a very good thing. When His work’s done, it’s heaven for you!