These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 [NASB]
After you have lived a while, you realize our greatest
opportunities of growth and learning come through our experiences. If we read
and learn, the lesson becomes head knowledge. Only when head knowledge is tested,
can it become life knowledge and grow and strengthen us.
James expressed this same thing in James 1:2-3 when he said,
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” [NASB] Paul taught similarly
in Romans 5:3-5 when he said,
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [NASB]
These disciples of Jesus taught going through hard times
produces growth, or rather, it can, depending on how we respond and react to
the difficulties.
Jesus taught much about growing in a relationship with God
and told His followers how they can endure hardships. In John 16:33, He spent some
time walking with and teaching His disciples before Judas betrayed Him. He told
them, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Jesus’
primary teaching about living through difficulties was to ask the Father for anything
in His name (vs 23). Jesus’ followers can have peace, God’s heart peace, while
facing difficulties because God will be with them and will help them. God doesn’t
leave a person when times get tough. He stays with them, gives them the
strength to get through trials, and grows the person to be a stronger believer
in Jesus Christ. As a person takes each small step toward growing more
Christlike, that person’s belief in God and His desire and ability to
strengthen him or her in and through the trial grows. That person becomes
stronger.
Consider Matthew 19:16-26 when the rich young ruler asked
Jesus a question. This rich young man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing
shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (vs. 16) Jesus answered him by
saying, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is
good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (vs. 17) The
man’s reply to Jesus was he had kept all the commandments. Then he asked, “What
am I still lacking?” (vs. 20b) This rich young man thought doing good would give
him eternal life. Jesus told him only One is good. He told the young man, if he
wanted to be complete (fully grown as can only happen by God), not just good, then
he must not rely on what he can do such as making money and buying himself
things. The completeness of which Jesus spoke can come only by God when He
makes a person fully grown through stages. These stages of gradual
strengthening take a person to the end goal of being completely Christlike.
This strengthening comes through trials and difficulties, daily Bible reading
and study, and prayer and communion with God. The rich young man chose not to
go through this trial. He kept the commandments instead of giving himself to
God. We can note this from his reply to Jesus. Recall what Jesus told this rich
young man after he said he kept the commandments. Jesus said, “If you wish to
be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven, and come follow me.” (vs. 21) He, in essence, said stop
relying on your own strength and plans, and rely on God instead. Give yourself
to God totally and trust in Him. This rich young ruler heard Jesus’ statement,
but went away grieving because he owned a lot of property. He didn’t want to
give it up. This rich young ruler chose to rely on himself rather than follow
God and trust Him for all his needs.
This moment in time was the rich young ruler’s chance to
grow in his relationship with God. He could have gone from knowing about sins and Yahweh God to knowing God and being in a redeemed relationship
with Him through Jesus Christ. This young man did not trust God to provide all things
for him and so he did not grow in his faith. He wanted to be a follower of
Jesus, but he didn’t rely on God’s strength and provision or his own learned understanding
of I AM, the eternal One. At that moment in time, the rich young ruler could have
come to know God personally through His Son, Jesus. He chose possessions over a
relationship with God.
We each come to these places in our lives. Will we trust the
God who created us and all things to take care of our needs? Will we trust Him
enough to give us the strength to endure when we obey Him to go where He tells
us to or do what He tells us to do? Will we believe what Jesus told Paul? In 2
Corinthians 12:9, Paul wrote saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power
is perfected in weakness.”
Jesus gave the rich young ruler the opportunity to grow in
his understanding of God and his relationship to Him. He encouraged him to step
out in faith in God. Jesus gives each of us the opportunity to grow in our
understanding and faith in God and to become more like Him. Each day we learn
something and have the chance to trust God more, and to gain strength,
endurance, and peace. Only you recognize what God is trying to teach you now.
You understand of what God asks from you to learn that lesson fully and become
even more like Christ.
Will you let go of your own understanding and grow in God?
Will
you be home-grown or faith-grown?
Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You,
command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out
of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:28-29
[NASB])
Lord, You have been
patient with me. I don’t understand how you have that much patience waiting on
me to trust you, but You do. You love me more than I realized. You are loving and
gracious and keep calling me to follow You. Please forgive my doubts and lack
of faith. Forgive my weaknesses and fears. Help me see and hear You only. Help
me step out of my self-made boat and walk on the storm-tossed sea with You.
Only by walking with You will I grow stronger. Lord, I want to be made complete
and to have Your peace. I don’t want to be home-grown anymore. I want to be
faith-grown by You. Please be patient with me. I love You.
