Strength in Trials

I get this question often. “Why do Christians have to struggle?” I get it. Nobody likes to struggle, but without struggle, we don’t grow. If everything was always easy, we would grow weak instead of strong. Without trials, our faith would fade rather than burn with passion.

I was reminded about this today, because it is the Feast of the Prophet Job. He was a man of deep faith who lost everything, from wealth to family and friends to his health. He never once gave up on God. God rewarded his faith and He will reward our faith when we are challenged.

Faith develops much like physical strength. If we have never been to a fitness center, we could never endure a workout like we witness from others. The truth is, they were once where we are. It is only after hard work that they endure extreme workouts.

Faith like Job can only come through hard work. Spiritual hard work means temptation and repentance. It requires planning and execution. Most of all it requires patience, but here’s the deal. No matter how much we plan and work, faith is also a gift from God.

God knew how much Job could endure, and He knows how much we can endure. God allowed the devil to tempt Job, because Job never walked away from God. So long as we include God in everything we do, and always to do His will, He will give us the faith we need.

The devil was not allowed to tempt Job beyond Job’s limit. He protects us in the same way when we include Him. Think of the weak faith of the father who asked Christ to heal his son. “I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9.24)

The father had faith, but it wasn’t enough to ‘get him through’ his trial. Instead of giving up, he turned to God. The prayer, “help my unbelief” is admitting that we can’t do it without God. The trial of seeing his son ill, because he included God, strengthened his faith.

If you want stronger faith, you must accept struggle. If you don’t want ‘more’ struggle than you already have in your life, then you also must accept that you don’t want stronger faith. If you are afraid you can’t endure the trial, then ask God, “Help my unbelief.”

After all your prayers and trials, one thing remains. We must trust that God will protect us from trials that will break us, but only if we include Him. So, don’t be afraid of struggling. Be afraid of walking away without God. Without God we can do nothing. With Him, we can do everything.