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When Turmoil reigns in Trials, part 1

When Turmoil Reigns in Trials—what to do?

 

During times like these, when a trial of illness strikes widely and the future seems uncertain, especially when that trial is made worse by the inability of the local church to gather together to worship in song and in the Word, and to mutually support one another in the spirit of true Christian Fellowship, inner peace seems to flee and turmoil begins to reign as fears take over. 

 

Questions are often asked in one’s mind. Will I be ‘ok’? What will I do? 

Thoughts race. I don’t like feeling scared. I fear what the future holds.

Tears flow.

 

Paul the apostle gives us a 3-step approach to be able to live with the uncertainty of the future during the trials in life. His 3-step approach may not specifically answer all of the questions, but they address the thoughts and emotions that produce fear, worry, and sadness. His 3-step approach produces faith and trust and a focus on God instead of a focus on the trial.

 

So, what are these 3-steps?

 

The passage with his 3-step plan to defeat the turmoil of trials is Philippians 4:4-9.

 

Step 1—REJOICE: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

 

Paul instructs to “Rejoice” in the face of trial and turmoil. Rejoicing seems counterintuitive, but it is exactly what we need—and the Holy Spirit knows it. To make sure that we get it, he even repeats the instruction a second time.

 

What is there in a trial that one can possibly rejoice over?  Notice Paul doesn’t write “Rejoice in the ‘trial’ always”, he writes “Rejoice, in the Lord always.” 

 

The trial is the wrong thing to focus on.

The Lord and His salvation is the right thing to focus on—to focus on “always.”

We have so much to be thankful to the Lord for, don’t we? Rejoice and give thanks for God’s spiritual blessings in Christ. Rejoice and give thanks for our Lord’s eternal salvation and all that brings to us—not just now, for a time, but for all eternity. Focus on these, not on the trial and the turmoil. An attitude of gratitude for our Lord's blessings goes far to cause the turmoil to diminish.

 

As Paul makes clear, this rejoicing is to be “always.” This little word is key. To the degree that we rejoice, to that degree turmoil in trial flees. Rejoicing lifts the heart. Rejoicing uplifts the spirit. It nourishes the soul. God knows exactly what we need in the turmoil of trial—and it’s REJOICING.  That is His divine prescription, His divine medicine, His divine remedy for the trial and turmoil that is ailing us. He knows. He’s God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. If we are physically sick, we go to the doctor and he may prescribe some medication. If we don’t fill the prescription and take the medicine as ordered, would we expect to get better? No, we would not. Would it be the doctor’s fault? No, it would not.

 

Brothers and sisters, God has prescribed a divine prescription for turmoil in trials, and that prescription is REJOICING—and it even tastes good! His medicine of rejoicing is exactly what we need in times like these.

 

Be sure to take God’s prescription as often He has prescribed it to be taken—always! Be sure that this is one prescription that will never run out. It has unlimited refills every time we pray to Him with rejoicing in His goodness.

 

We rob ourselves of the peace God wants us to have in trials, when we don’t take the medicine that He has prescribed.  Please, brothers and sisters, don’t miss a dose of this heavenly medicine, rejoicing.  You will find that rejoicing in our Lord will completely change the way the trials and turmoils of life are viewed and affect us.

If you are finding it difficult to rejoice, He already knows that. Your Lord wants to hear you call out to Him for help in your trial, for help to rejoice more consistently in the face of turmoil and uncertainty. He will hear. He will not turn His ear away from your prayers. He will help you to rejoice, and grow in your faith, so that you rejoice always.

 

This is just Step1 of Paul the apostle’s 3-step approach. Steps 2 and 3 will follow in future devotionals later today, with more devotions to follow tomorrow and in the coming days until we can meet again.

 

If you have any concerns or needs during this time of trial, please don’t hesitate to contact the pastoral staff of Grace Gospel Church. If you don’t have one of their phone numbers, just phone the church office and they can give you Paul’s cell phone. If you haven’t yet received a pastoral phone call from Fred or Paul or Trey, you should receive one if you have left your phone number with Grace Gospel Church.

 

Note: As this devotion continues and future devotions addressing this time of trial in all of our lives, they will only be posted on our Blog and not the GGC website HomePage.