It's hard to think of a trial as good, but in 2 Corinthians 7, Paul indicates that we can find joy in our trials. How can this be? After all, trials are painful. Trials may be painful, but they are also great opportunities to see how God has changed our lives. Remember in school when you took a test and knew the material? You looked forward to it. It was a chance to put what you were learning into practice. The same is true in our faith. We can see what we are learning through our trials.

Another joyful purpose of a trial is to learn from it. God will use difficult situations to teach us about ourselves or others. We can learn how to respond in a situation or how not to respond. Sometimes, when we don't learn the lesson, we repeat the trial. We waste time, energy, and effort by not 'getting it'. In our relationships, we often think we should part ways at the first sign of conflict. When we do this, we respond carnally or unspiritually and miss out on a great opportunity to love one another. If you flee every time you have a conflict, you will never develop love and maturity in your church relationships, marriage, or friendships. Use each trial that comes your way to grow in Christ. As you grow through them, you can rejoice in tribulation because it will draw you closer to God.

Life Lesson: Trials can be our chance to show what we know or what we have learned.

Dear God,
Thank You for the difficulties in my life. While they are not easy to walk through, I know that they are being used to teach me new things. Help me to depend on You during these times and to learn the lessons You have for me the first time.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

Senior Pastor
The Bridge
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