Scriptures for Dealing With Trials…

27 Mar Scriptures for Dealing With Trials…

As we grapple with the spread of COVID-19, here are some Scriptures to meditate on. Jesus tells us that even though trials will come in this world, he has been through them and overcame them, and will help us as we deal with them:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Know that God brings good out of all things (even difficulties) for those of us who love him and are Disciples of Christ:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“ Romans 8:28

As we will see in the passage below, the apostle Paul went through a health challenge, and he prayed for God to remove it. However, God chose not to do so, but to instead graciously use Paul’s suffering to bless and strengthen him. We too can pray to be delivered from illness and hardship, and God may choose to do so. But if not, we can be confident that God will use any trial we face as a way to display his grace and power to us and in us.

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Even though we will all one day pass away, our deepest joy in life is that we will ultimately be in heaven. And there, we will be with God, Jesus, the Angels, and all other saved people. In heaven we will have no more trials and suffering, but only love, joy, and peace.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

Many people around the world are suffering from illness, isolation, and fear. But let us hold on to the promises of God, knowing that whatever trials may come, God is with us, for us, and saving a room for us in heaven.

One last thought for us all: even though we may not be able to gather together with fellow disciples in church services for a season, let us still remain in loving, encouraging connection with each other in whatever ways we can: phone calls, texts, social media, and possibly even wisely planned individual or small group visits. We are blessed to live in a time where physical isolation does not mean that we cannot communicate and even “see” one another, albeit from a distance or on a screen. Let’s thank God for this and use it for good, knowing that God, by his grace and love, will bless and take care of us, even in the trials we face!