PR. DENIS KALUNGI KIREKA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

8nd/10/2021 SERMON

WHY DOES GOD USE TRIALS SO OFTEN?

Do you want to be used by God? It’s worth it, but it isn’t easy. If we want to be used by God for his glory, we will be entrusted with trials.

Here is the bad news. When God is to work in a big way, it often involves one of his servants facing a big trial. So we need to be ready for big storms and trials. How can we be prepared?

Pain is not without purpose. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

Because of what we face every day. Below are some of the trials that God has encouraged us to face to train us. If you dare to follow God wherever he leads, these perspectives will be more than head knowledge. They will embed themselves deep in your heart because at times you will cling to them as a drowning sailor clings to a life raft. “Storms will come, but these truths will keep you afloat.”

Trials put God’s power on display.

When God allows me to step into a trial, he may be getting ready to work for his glory. Historically, this is how God prefers to work. Remember Gideon? He started with an army one-fifth the size of the Midianites—and then God made the odds even worse.

“The LORD said to Gideon, ‘The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boasts over me, saying, “My hand has saved me”’ {Judges 7:2}. Not until God is the only one left with its difficult to recognize his power.

God uses trials to show that he alone deserves the credit. Trials make it clear to the world that I am not in control. Everyone can see that I don’t have the ability or strength to overcome the problem. “Therefore, when God works he gets all the glory, not me.”

Trials prepare me for service (even little trials).

Here is the bad news. When God works in a big way, it often involves one of his servants facing a big trial. So we need to be ready for big storms and trials. How can we be prepared? Little trials. Friends because of the little trial you’re going through you have thought the face of God.

I want God to trust me with his big tasks, but God doesn’t give us the big tasks without testing us in the little things. Every trial God sends, even our daily frustrations are meant to test us and grow us stronger. If I want God to use me for big things, I must pass the little tests. If I don’t pass the little tests, why should I expect God to trust me with greater things? If you have never sent your child with ten thousand how can you trust him or her with one million shillings?

Without trials our body and soul become weak. I realize it's wars that make, “Soldiers generals.” Do we see soldiers graduating to generals without facing wars and becoming victorious? “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” {Romans 5:3-5}.

Trials sanctify me.

When things don’t go the way we planned, traffic is endless, ministries struggle, paperwork abounds or health suffers; I realize just how impatient we are.  It’s a war that makes generals. I always command respect to H.E Yoweri Kaguta Musevenihe was a patient for 5 years in the bush fighting to rule Uganda but some of us go to church for a quick fix if God does not work in a month you quit or else you add him another one month to depart from him completely. 

I mention trials don’t cause us to sin by being impatient, angry, or complaining, they simply reveal what is inside. If you cap a volcano the lava will blow out the side. If you try to cap your anger by not getting upset at your kids, it will probably blow out in another area like yelling at your dog or getting mad at other drivers. 

Trials reveal weaknesses

They reveal our inner sin

It’s only after I see my sin that can I allow God to work inside of me. The greatest battle is the one that is inside of me. Because of this, God’s trials have been his greatest instrument of growth in my life.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” {James 1:2-4}.

Trials make me depend on God.

God uses trials to turn our dependence fully on him. He wants us to cling to Him and find peace in him alone. The greatest battle that is waged each day for the glory of God is not the one around us, it is the one in us. Our sinful heart doesn’t want to relinquish or surrender control. Trials are God’s tool to break our dependence on ourselves so that we will trust in him alone.

Trials and weaknesses keep us from embezzling God’s glory. They make it clear that God alone deserves recognition and honor.

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29, 31). Take the example of King David from a herdsman to a king and Joseph from a house boy to a governor.

Trials show others that God is dependable.

As you go through trials, others are watching. They are watching to see if you respond in faith. Having peace amid comfort is normal. Having peace during trials is not. Trials allow us during amid to speak about the hope that we have. If you complain or have a bad attitude when facing trials, we forfeit my opportunity to speak of the great God! 

God entrusts us with trials so that we can be a light. Let’s not waste these opportunities.

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” {1 Peter 3:14-15}.

Trials show us and others that God is infinitely valuable.

As we go through trials or loss with peace and joy, others are watching. They are watching to see if you respond in joy. When you have joy amid loss, it shows the world that Jesus is better. Unfortunately, joy amidst loss is not my default setting. I think my default is complaining, self-pity, and seeking sympathy. So, before I respond in joy God has to teach us that Jesus is better than anything this world has to offer. He teaches through trials and loss that He alone is our treasure and great reward. 

This doesn’t mean that we have to laugh it off. Loss hurts, a lot. But my joy is in something that cannot be shaken. We can feel an incredible loss and unshakable joy in God at the same time. Even if we lose everything, God is still enough. Through tears we can say with Job, “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” {Job 1:21}.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” {Psalm 73:25-26}.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock is cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength” {Habakkuk 3:17-19}.

Trials are an opportunity for reward.

God entrusts us with trials as a gift. If we respond to the trials in faith and holiness, we can have joy in the fact that we are storing up rewards in heaven. If we respond to the trials with fear or complaining, we miss the opportunity for reward.

“In this, you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” {1 Peter 1:6-7}.

Trials may be spiritual warfare.

We don’t need to fear, because Satan is like a dog on God’s leash. He can only do what God allows (remember Job). God may allow Satan to harm you (or even kill me), but it always has a purpose and it is always for our eternal good. When trials come, we must keep our eyes on God, but we need to be aware of Satan’s tactics “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” {2 Corinthians 2:11}.

Satan wants to discourage us so that we give up. He will attack our health, our family’s health, and will send a myriad of trails to take us out of the fight. Don’t let him. Keep your eyes on God. If you are getting bombarded with trials, take heart, it may be because Satan is not happy with your life and ministry!

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” {Psalm 27:14}.

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” {1 John 4:4}.

Trials are part of God’s work.

​God never says, “I am fade-up.” God is in control of the trials. God is not on his throne wringing his hands as he waits for the outcome of events. Even if we can’t see how we can be confident that God is working for his glory. This helps us to stop worrying about how things are going to work out. Let your heart be peaceful when you remember that God promised to work for his glory and our eternal good.

Pain is not without purpose. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” {Romans 8:28}.​

Trials may be for discipline.

Start with the heart. Even though this is listed last, we always start with examining our hearts. God often uses trials or sicknesses to get our attention and reveal sin. As a loving Father, he wants to restore us to fellowship with him.  “[D]o does not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves” {Hebrews 12:5-6}.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” {Psalm 139:23-24}. Be blessed.