God's Providence in Trials

Trials are going to come.  We can surely speak of the difficulties we face at the workplace, home, or even in our own hearts.  At times it seems that once we get through one difficulty another is waiting in the shadows to unexpectedly pounce upon us.  No one on this earth would say that they have never had one trial or another in their lifetime.  Trials are inevitable.  They will always come.

There is no one in the Bible, other than perhaps Job or Christ, who had more difficulties, pain, and trials in life than the Apostle Paul.  This week we will read in Acts 27 Paul’s very adventurous (and I use that term loosely) trip to Rome.  He is a faithful follower of Christ and it seems that no matter where he turns there is always another trial awaiting him.  This time it is a shipwreck.  Paul could very easily become frustrated with the path on which the Lord has taken him since his conversion on the road to Damascus.  But his response to this trial is a teachable moment for us all.

If we were in his place, how would we respond?  What can Paul’s response teach us about our own faith through trials?  James, the brother of Jesus, says in James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”  What does it even mean to count it joy?  What does it take for us to lean upon our faith in times of trouble?  And is God still present with us in the midst of trials?  Where does He come in this story?

May God use our time together this week to teach us about trials and our response to those trials.  May we be prayerfully prepared for His Word to guide, teach, and direct us this week.