This year has been very hard for me. As a Christian, how can I possibly praise God for the trials and tribulations I have been through?
That is a very good question, one that I’m sure many people have asked. It is obvious that you have been through multiple trials and tribulations this past year. You did not specify what these different trials were, but I’m sure each one had an impact on you. I hope that we can help you see that difficult times are given to us for our good. You used the words ‘trials’ and ‘tribulations’ so let’s see what the Bible says about these things.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 tells us, “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a GREAT TRIAL OF AFFLICTION the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” Here, the Lord is stirring up the Corinthians by reminding them of a time when those in Macedonia were going through a great trial of deep poverty. Yet, by the Lord’s leading, these saints were led to minister to the saints in Jerusalem in their great poverty. Not only had this trial of poverty caused these dear believers to minister to others out of what they had, but mainly, their trial caused them to give “their own selves to the Lord.” Out of this trial, those believers in Macedonia were drawn closer to the Lord and were moved by the will of God.
1 Peter 1:6-7 strengthens us with these words, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” When we become discouraged through a trial of our faith, we should realize that this is truly a blessing from the Lord. As we give ourselves into the hands of the Lord, He will give us a heart of praise and thanksgiving for Himself. This trial of our faith will cause us to be drawn closer to the Lord so that our lives might bring Him honor and glory.
Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only so, but we GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also: knowing that TRIBULATION WORKETH PATIENCE; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” The Greek word for tribulation is ‘thlip’-sis’ and it is defined as “pressure (literally or figuratively), affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.” Tribulation can come in so many shapes and sizes. It can include being persecuted, hated, ostracized by others, etc. It can also include those things that come upon us like depression, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, financial problems, etc. As believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, it is so important to realize that none of these things can happen without the Lord either allowing it or causing it to happen. Either way, these tribulations work in us to produce patience in our lives. Patience then produces experience, experience produces hope, and hope causes us to be bold for the Lord. It will take away any shame we might have of Him!
I can’t really say that I am sorry for what you have been through this year. I am sorry that you have become sad and despondent, but when we realize our trials and tribulations are given to us for our own good and to help us be better servants of the Lord, we can, and should, rejoice in them. We are promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Whatever it is the Lord brings you to, He will also bring you through. Even the discipline of the Lord towards us is for our own good. We read in Hebrews 12:11, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
I pray these words and scriptures will help you realize the love of God for you. He constantly works in our lives so that we might be “conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:29). (CC) (610.4)