Well, let’s consider what Paul had to say about it in Hebrews 12:11:
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening (AMEN to that) - it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
Did you catch that - we’re being trained!!
Think of an athlete. I can’t imagine they always enjoy their training! But if they want to rise to the highest level, they must endure training.
Let’s do some word studies.
Discipline comes from chastening. Chastening indicates there is instruction and education - with disciplinary action - when training or nurturing.
Now let’s apply that to what James said about trials and tribulations - he called them temptations. In Greek, the root word for temptation means to test. How are we tested? Through adversity. It’s a way of proving. So apparently these tests, or trials are meant to try our faith.
Add to that endurance, and it can be summed up this way according to 1 Peter: 6-8:
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
So God uses trials to develop us spiritually. They help us develop endurance which ultimately helps us to be mature and strong in character.
No one said we weren’t going to suffer or have trouble. In fact, we are told that as followers we should not expect anything different than what Jesus himself went through.
Is it worth it?
As believers, we are told in Romans 8:28 that God uses everything - everything - for good. It doesn’t say God only allows good to happen - no, he says whatever happens to his followers can in the long run be used for good.
Let’s think about some of our predecessors . . .
Daniel, with his future looking promising because he was one of the best and brightest among his fellow companions, was taken as a youth and turned into a eunuch.
Joseph, with his future ahead of him, was betrayed by his own family, stripped of everything and sold as a slave, unfairly accused of things, and forgotten about while he languished in prison.
David, although knowing he was called by God, was constantly on the run and being hunted down, even to the point of having to survive by faking insanity!
Paul, while in the midst of doing God’s will, was continuously fighting for his life, shipwrecked, bitten by a viper, flogged - and the list goes on!
Moses, miraculously saved as a baby for God’s purposes, had to flee to the desert for 40 years because his good intentions were misunderstood.
Mary - the precious mother of our Savior - who had to endure ridicule, gossip, upheaval, and emotional pain beyond our comprehension.
Corrie ten Boon, who watched as her father and sister died in a concentration camp, and later had to forgive one of the very guards who was there at the time.
Would we dare ask each one of these - and countless others - “Was it worth it?”
Consider Joseph’s life verse in Genesis 50:20 that sums up his struggles “what Satan meant for evil God used for good.”
And He’s still doing that! Using troubles and difficulties for our good.
Is this “ride” we’re on worth it?
Is it worth the fear - is it worth the anxiety - is it worth the frustration - is it worth the cost - is it worth the aggravation - is it worth the disappointment?
I’ll let you decide for yourself.
But before you do . . . think about whether our precious Christ Jesus thought it was worth it or not.
Hebrews 12:2 - “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward.”
Joy - what an odd word.
Only those who are called according to His purpose would understand why we can be joyful amidst trouble.
The real question is - is He worth it?
Is He worth all the trouble?
Is He able to deliver?
I’m reminded of the song by Chris Tomlin “Is He Worthy?”
The words echo in my mind over and over . . Is He worthy, is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory - is He worthy of this?
The answer - YES!!!
