Purposeful Trials

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.” Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.    Daniel 3:28-30

*God uses trials to prepare us for greater service.

After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were saved from the fire, God used them in a greater way. They prospered after their trials and were moved to greater places of service and usability. God used the trials to prepare them for greater service and ministry.

God does the same with us. Our trials are preparation time for greater service in the Kingdom of God. Trials are difficult and painful. Yet, they seem to be one of God’s main methods of preparing us for future service.

How do our difficulties prepare us for greater service?

**We learn to rely upon God and not ourselves. When He’s all we can rely on, we find that Jesus is sufficient. His peace and presence carry us through the trials of life.

**We learn that trials are always temporary. That truth may not shine through when we are walking through our darkest valleys. We do see that truth more clearly once the crisis is over. Then, we are more prepared to help and comfort others as they walk through their trials and tribulations.

**We grow in our faith and trust in Jesus. Each problematic circumstance we face can cause us to trust Christ all the more. We must make the choice to grow in faith. We can either become better or bitter as we go through hard times. When we choose to trust in Christ, He challenges and expands our faith. You will never go wrong when you trust Christ day by day.

Tony French