Preschool
And be ye kind one to another (Ephesians 4:32).
Glory in Tribulations
Memory Verses
Primary
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Junior
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).
Background Scripture: Romans 5
Lesson Scripture: Romans 5:1-6, Job 23:1-10
Introduction
Every person meets trouble at times. For some, trouble seems to come swiftly; others may face valleys that are long and deep. Whatever its cause or however it comes, how we meet tribulation is a direct result of our commitment to God and how we have learned to face difficulty. Lashing out, blaming others, shrinking into ourselves, or trying to run away are all natural responses; this lesson presents a better alternative. Is glorying in tribulation really as unattainable as we think?
Key Verse
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (James 1:2-3).
Lesson Scripture
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 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.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Job 23:1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Studying the Lesson
Job’s lament touches a cord in the hearts of those who are going through deep valleys. Most Christians experience at least one period in their lives where they read the book of Job and empathize with his expression. To search for God and seemingly not find what we are looking for can be devastating. Job, however, never let go of his courage.
Justification by faith is the cornerstone of the Christian’s belief. If we are justified by faith, our sins are open before God and forgiven, our hearts are settled, and our peace is steadfast and unmovable. To be justified by faith, we must believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and that He is the Redeemer of the world. It is impossible to believe in Christ in this way and not submit ourselves to Him and his will.
Grace is the power of God that comes to us through Christ’s forgiveness and a surrendered will. It enables us to weather rough times in our journey through life. It is important to understand that tribulation of itself does not bring about any good; it is rather God’s grace and strength working in and through us that brings about the glory to God.
With God’s grace, tribulation cultivates patience. When we can truly submit and allow ourselves and our feelings to wait on God, an important lesson is learned. The very nature of patience demands a certain amount of time. Patience is not easy to attain and impossible to learn without allowing time to elapse. Waiting with patience in trials is one of the most difficult challenges a Christian may face. But when patience has had “her perfect work” (James 1:4), it works something in our life that is impossible to replicate otherwise.
Patience brings about experience. In every facet of life, experience is a valued asset. Here we see the first glimmer of reward that can be reaped by our trial of fire. Experience is not gained by reading or by observation; we must live through something in order to gain experience. Just as the school of hard knocks is many times a better teacher than a teacher in a classroom, so personal experience teaches us things that cannot be learned any other way.
Experience brings about hope. Our glimmer of reward now becomes a bright flame. Hope is a balm to a weary mind, a blessed messenger to troubled hearts. Where there is hope, there is the ability to carry on.
Hope makes us unashamed. Trials may humble us, but there is no shame in a heart that has experienced tribulation and won with the help of God and the church. It is truly an unashamed Christian who, with the love of God in his heart and a firm grasp on the hope of a better life in eternity, has weathered storms and heartache and is anchored in God’s grace.
Practical Truths for Today
Today there is much discussion surrounding mental health. Doctors and society alike recognize that many live with anguish of mind or mental illness. The Scriptures are not silent on this subject either, and some help can be found in the simple explanations and instructions within the Bible.
God is not to blame for these struggles. The world we live in is full of all manner of unpleasantness. This was not by God’s design; He created a perfect world. We still enjoy many benefits of that beautiful creation today, but sin has corrupted the earth from pole to pole. As a result, mankind faces trouble. “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7).
One common misconception Christian people may have is that they should be able to come through trials without any mental and emotional distress. Because of this misconception, many are caught off-guard by their own emotional turmoil and think it is evidence of spiritual need. People who may not have ever faced serious anger, depression, anxiety, fear, or despair suddenly find themselves facing these emotions in a stronger measure than they thought possible. Like Job, their faith is tested like never before, and they find themselves trying to understand where God is. God is still there, perhaps even closer than ever before, but with conflicting and confusing emotions, we cannot seem to feel Him. This may be a new and terrifying experience, but a strong faith is invaluable in such times and will ultimately confirm we are not alone.
The Scripture does not condemn emotions. Emotions such as anger, fear, anxiousness, and sadness are not evidence of a fall from grace. As human beings, we must have feelings and emotions. While it may be a normal reaction to not feel a strong connection with God when in distress, we need to remember that God is near to his children when they are struggling, even when we cannot feel his protective care. It is important to not act on our emotions nor let them develop into attitudes (Eph. 4:26-27). Carrying our emotions and weaknesses to God or possibly admitting them to someone who can help us will often bring relief.
A time of deep tribulation is often a time of reflection. Many times God uses a trial to help us see ourselves more clearly. Asking and allowing God to help us see ourselves is helpful in opening our hearts. Often when there is turmoil, things come to mind and into the open that otherwise might have been left covered. Humbly accepting what the Lord would have us to see will pay dividends later on. Let us not allow ourselves to believe that our trial is always a result of mistakes that we have made. To believe such is to believe that if we live perfectly enough, we will never have trials in this life, which is deception.
Perhaps until patience has afforded us its virtue (James 1:4) we cannot understand how we can rejoice in trial. Delight is not found in the trial itself or even necessarily in eventual victory but rather in learning to place our trust in God and accepting the humbling that comes with submission. When we can submit to Him in a deeper measure, God’s glory will rest upon us. As we become lost in Him and in his love, we marvel at his power working in us. What glory would there be in a Christian who did not experience this holy power? It is best displayed in extremity and opposition. Having come through a trial, we can say with the apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).
Questions
- In our day, do we seek medical help too quickly or too slowly for depression and anxiety?
- How much is our lifestyle to blame for mental and emotional instability? If so, is there any way to remedy this?
- Why are we tempted to lay responsibility at God’s feet for the tribulations of the world around us and in our own lives?
- How does assuming that we are entitled to an easy life cause us trouble?
- The brain is an organ that is prone to disease like any other organ. How do we differentiate between a naturally occurring sickness of the brain and an emotional problem? Should these two things be viewed differently?
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).