4 Truths To Help You Unlock Strength In Trials

“There is no university for a Christian, like that of sorrow and trial.”~ Charles Spurgeon

Even though Jesus has told us that in this world we will have sorrow and trials (John 16:33), isn’t it true that when the hard times come we really abhor them? The Bible also says (James 1:2), “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” It’s taken me a long time to fully grasp these two Scriptures. Trials can feel so unfair, as if you are in a dark tunnel where hope is a glimmer far away.

Trials reveal how strong our relationship with Jesus is.

When we go through a hard season we will be challenged in so many ways. Our faith is tested. Do we have a steadfast trust in God or not. Our character is tested too. Who are we really? Are we strong or are we weak? It seems like trials bring out the worst in us.

I speak from experience. This last year has been one of the hardest seasons of my life. You can read more about it in my blog post “One Of The Most Effective Ways To Punch The Devil In The Face.” Basically, I went from being a perfectly healthy woman, walking 2.5 miles daily, to walking with a cane and dealing with pain and stiffness in my entire body. It’s been a trial for sure. Today, a year later, I am learning how to find strength in the midst of my suffering. I am not quite there yet, as I still wrestle with a spirit of heaviness, anger, self-pity and hopelessness. However, I am getting stronger every day and I want to share with you what is helping me.

God will never waste a sorrow. He brings good out of all suffering.

1. Allow yourself the time to grieve

It’s very important to validate your feelings. Whatever loss you are facing right now, it will carry a variety of emotions. Stuffing these feelings is not healthy. Allow yourself to grieve. It’s been a year for me and I still cry about the loss of my good health. However, I’ve noticed I’m crying less and less now. I wrestled and resisted my situation for a long time. This, I learned, did not help me. I needed to accept that my life had changed. There is, however, a fine line between receiving your circumstances and not allowing them to keep you stuck.

Healing is a process. Be gentle with yourself as you journey through your trial.

2. Lean on God’s Word

When life feels painful we can feel overwhelmed and at a loss of how to move forward. Our thinking can become dark. I felt stuck for a very long time. I felt depressed, and hopeless. Then I heard a sermon by Pastor Patrick Tanton that changed my life. It was called “Stop Negative Thoughts.” Pastor Patrick shared how he uses notecards that he writes down Scriptures on and puts them in front of him, like on his monitor. He writes the Scripture out as a prayer and declares them out loud. He said our circumstances may not change but our thinking can.

Cry out to the Lord like Pastor Patrick did: “Lord, rewire my thinking. Create new grooves in my thinking, new patterns in my brain.”

I was so touched by this message and sat down immediately to write out God’s promises on notecards. Then I pasted them everywhere I could see them. I put them on my desk, in my bathroom, next to my bedside. I began to read them out loud, over and over again. These became a lifeline for my despair. When I walk up the stairs (a very hard thing fo me), I recite Psalm 18:1 out loud: “I love you Lord, YOU are my strength” or I say Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” with each step. By leaning on God’s word you are not only allowing His power to work in you, but you are also praising Him. Praise is a weapon

Speaking God’s word out loud gives us the strength we need in a trial.

If you need help finding Scriptures to carry you through a tough season you can find some in my blog posts Ten Bible Verses That Will Carry You Through A Tough Season, 13 Bible Verses To Give You Hope During Tough Times, and/or My “Run To Him” Bible Verses When Life Is Hard. However, I also encourage you to simply ask the Lord to highlight Scriptures for you personally. This will make Jesus personal and will build your relationship with Him.

3. Never give up

This is actually more challenging than it sounds, especially when you’ve been in a trial for an extended period of time. Never give up on the promises of God written for you. The Lord is good, and He has a good plan for you. The devil is evil and has a plan of destruction for you. Sometimes it’s hard to see our trials as spiritual warfare, but it helps if we can. God will use this trial for a higher purpose for you. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Resist doubt and disbelief and keep taking steps of faith, even when you don’t feel anything is changing. Trusting God in the midst of your trial is a powerful weapon against the enemy. I heard somewhere that every time you say “I trust you Lord,” it’s a punch in Satan’s face.

Believing that God is with you in this trial and that He will never forsake you is a form of worship.

There have been many days I have wanted to give up. The discomfort in my entire body has been like a clanging cymbal, robbing me of life and specifically of joy. I even said words of death over myself that I had to repent of.

4. Recognize the spiritual battle you are in

Going through a trial really does test our faith. It’s easy to wonder, if God loves me then why am I suffering? What I’ve learned is, that this is a lie from the enemy. The truth is Satan is real and we are in a spiritual battle. However, Jesus has told us in Matthew 10:1, “Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” And as Christ followers, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. 1 John 4:4 reminds us that “The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” What this means is that we have the power and authority to fight the enemy with confidence because God Almighty is on our side.

I have started to see my suffering as a season of being at war, a spiritual war. This has given me a sense of empowerment, knowing that I am a child of God, a soldier of Christ fighting the good fight of faith. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to do battle.

I hope these four suggestions will help you to find strength in whatever trial you are in, and I pray that you will fight, fight, fight. Jesus Christ is the great Victor. He is with you and does battle with you (make sure to invite Him to). Your miracle could be right around the corner.

There is freedom on the other side of your difficult season. Be patient and persevere.

As for myself, I don’t know if my circumstances have changed much, or if it’s my attitude that has. It seems like I am starting to feel more peace and joy each day, which is strengthening me. I am, however, continuing to believe and declare healing over myself. I’m constantly decreeing out loud – “thank You Lord Jesus for my whole and complete healing.” And of course, I have a team of experts encouraging me too. Not only do I have Jesus Christ on my side and other believers praying for me, but I also have a Homeopathic doctor and a Chinese Acupuncturist. You may need an MD, a therapist, or a support group. Or maybe you need more community. God knows what you need.

Ask God what the pathway to your freedom is. He will lead you.

“Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.“~ Psalm 66:9