THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS IN LIFE

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS IN LIFE

The Holy Apostle James says,

"My brethren count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience. But let patience have
its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing" [James 1:2].

The Greek word for trial is δοκιμασία (Thokimacia) which also can be translated as, test. Whatever the world throws at us it does so by God’s permission. The issue is not TRIALS OR TESTING but our response to them. Properly received "trials" reveal where our hearts are. They are food for faith, which must grow or die. The godly reaction is joy and perseverance [Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 5:41; Romans 5:2-3, 8:18; Hebrews 12:11; 1 Peter 2:19]. Though unkind circumstances are from the evil one, to get angry at circumstances is to get angry at God who permits them. We are to rejoice even in temptations. They reveal whether or not we are prepared for heaven [1 Colossians 9:25]. Although the Holy Apostle James has discussed outward trials, he now turns to inward temptations, which deceive us and lead us into sin, but God never tempts us.

The immediate origin of a temptation is our own sinful passions, which the devil energizes. Temptation begins with "desires" or lusts, then progresses to being "conceived" a fixation on or delight in sinful desires, and ends as "birth to sin," a consent to or acting out of SINFUL DESIRES. We fall to temptation because WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO DO SO. NEITHER GOD NOR CIRCUMSTANCES FORCE US TO YIELD. We, as Orthodox Christians know that suffering is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure, as thought by many Jews. Rather, Christians accept persecution joyfully, knowing that the reward of the Kingdom far outweighs any suffering on earth. [Romans 5:3-5]. "For this is commendable," says the Holy Apostle Peter, "if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully" [1 Peter 2:19].

The Holy Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian Christians says, "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in disrasses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness…yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" [2 Corinthians 6:4-10].

No one, my friends in Christ, is immune to agony or spared from torment while one lives his life on earth for life is one of constant challenges. The Holy Apostle Peter writes: "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but REJOICE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST’S SUFFERING, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" [1 Peter 4:12-14]. The "fiery trial" is the suffering of tribulations that tempt us TO UNFAITHFULNESS, to the RUIN OF OUR FAITH. God’s servants and believers have always suffered unjustly, but in baptism the "sufferings" in which we experience are those of Christ Himself, which will ultimately bring great "joy."

There should be absolutely no question that our faith will be tested; obstacles will present themselves to stop our spiritual progress and growth. We need to be prepared for these inevitable difficulties just like an athlete who participates in an obstacle course and when he approaches the obstacle that lies before him, he jumps over it and continues on to complete his run. Our Merciful Savior, in His wisdom will either permit testing or will allow it to happen at His own time. However, God’s timing is always perfect! Testing and trials are important to our spiritual growth and spiritual wellbeing. The Psalmist reminds in psalm 66 that God consoles believers, promising them they will receive the Holy Spirit if they accept God’s Logos/Word. He also consoles believers, promising they will ultimately be delivered from every affliction and from every spiritual captivity.

Trials and Tribulations are understood as a form of God’s discipline so that we may all become better people fit for the inheritance of His Heavenly Kingdom. Discipline from God, may seem to us kind of harsh, and may make us sad, yet it needs to be accepted by us with a sense of responsibility believing that it is to our spiritual benefit and for our own good. God’s reason is to bring us closer to Him and does not ever seek our destruction but our salvation. The Almighty God knows the future and warns us of what is to come. "But the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.’" [1 Peter 4:7].

Those crushed by the trials and tribulations of life are people who lack faith in God. These same people are not able to endure them, and unfortunately, they do not turn to God for help but, instead, turn to drugs, alcohol, or even go as far as to take their own life out of despair and hopelessness. The life of every Christian is one of prayer. Prayer is the key to everything that prevents us from entering in or communicating with. It is through prayer that we are able to speak directly to our Creator. When we converse with God at the time of prayer we become similar to the Angels for the most excellent work of the Angels is prayer and worship. It is through prayer that we are able to cultivate virtue and to live out a virtuous life. For how can anyone be virtuous who does NO PRAY and does NOT always bow reverently to the Provider and Giver of virtue?

Humility is the foundation of virtue. Trials and tribulations teach us humility for we see that we can do nothing without Christ. A humble person exercises patience and always with hope in God. To be patient literally means to suffer and endure. It means to wait on the Lord Christ through all tribulations and trials with courage and hope. Only those who are patient, according to our Savior Christ, bring forth fruit from the seeds of God’s Logos/Word that are sown in their hearts. "And as for that in the good soil, they are these who, hearing the Logos/Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience" [Luke 8:15].

No person can go through this temporal life unscathed or without injury of body and soul. It is very naive to believe that one can live up to 90 or 100 years on earth and not be hurt and acquire scars from various injuries. The lessons are many and sometimes difficult to accept but one must face the reality of life, and be as prepared as possible to face all kinds of problems with faith, determination and courage. No one should be willing to be crushed by these unexpected problems in life. After every storm or hurricane follows a clear sky and sunshine. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. "Casting all your care upon Hi, for He cares for you" [1 Peter  5:7].

_______________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George