WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
OCTOBER 11, 2024
TOPIC: FROM TRIALS TO TRIUMPH
BY T. O. BANSO
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 New King James Version).
Trials are part of life. They are difficult experiences, challenges, or problems of life that test our faith and character. They also grow our faith and build our character. You will face trials of various types at different times in your life. They could happen at unexpected periods and be prolonged. While some handle their trials well, some don’t. Trials reveal who people truly are. They bring out some people’s best while revealing others’ worst. Trials do not leave people the same. It makes some better and others bitter.
Every child of God must understand that trials will come and cultivate the right attitudes towards them. They must appreciate that every trial has an expiry date and have faith in God to overcome it. They must believe that God will turn their trials into triumphs. Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
One major example of moving from trials to triumph in the Bible is Job. He was a blameless and upright man, feared God, and shunned evil (Job 1:1). God confirmed this twice (Job 1:8; 2:3). But Job lost his property and children and was afflicted with sickness. Nevertheless, he still held fast to his integrity. His wife who was supposed to encourage him became the devil’s mouthpiece and told him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 New King James Version). Job replied, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Verse 10a New King James Version). The end of this verse says Job did not sin with his lips.
During his trial, Job’s friends and relations abandoned, mocked, and abhorred him (Job 19:14; 19; 12:4; 16:20). The three friends who came to comfort him became miserable comforters (Job 16:2). Instead of comforting him, they condemned him. All their long conversation with him was to make him accept that his trials were because of his sins. Every attempt by Job to justify himself before them failed.
Job’s trial was worsened by God’s silence. He accused God of persecuting Him (Job 19:22). “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge” (Job 23:2-7 New Living Translation).
Job felt betrayed and deserted by God whom he had lived to please. He said, “I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed. But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold” (Job 23:8-10 New Living Translation). Job felt forsaken by God just as Jesus had felt on the cross and said, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46 New King James Version).
However, despite cursing the day he was born and all the questions he asked God without any response from God until towards the end of the Book of Job, Job never cursed God as Satan had told God he would do if God stretched out His hand and strike everything he had and touch his bone and his flesh (Job 1:11; 2:5). Despite not receiving any explanation for God for his trials and being at the mercy of his miserable comforter-friends, Job’s faith in God was steadfast. Job said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27 New King James Version).
Job’s story is a case of moving from trials to triumph. When it appeared all hopes were lost, God responded to him, asking him questions that Job couldn’t answer and he had to apologize to God for speaking of things he did not understand and too wonderful for him to know (Job 42:3).
God ended Job’s trials after he had rebuked his friends for not speaking of Him what was right as Job had and told them to go to Job with seven bulls and seven and sacrifice a burnt offering for themselves, and Job would pray for them (verses 7-8). God vindicated Job. He moved from trials to triumph. Job lost everything, but God blessed his latter days more than his beginning. He gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 says, “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (New King James Version).
Job’s trials ended in triumph. He enjoyed an amazing restoration. Job 42:12-17 says, “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days” (New King James Version).
Have faith in God as Job did. Persevere like him. “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 Christian Standard Bible). Don’t lose hope. Emulate Job’s patience. James 5:11 says, “Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful” (American Standard Version).
Don’t let your trials make you depressed or take harmful actions against yourself. Trials are not peculiar to you; others face trials too. “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 New English Translation).
We live in a broken and imperfect world. Others are facing trials like you are. Being born again doesn’t exempt anyone from trials. The Apostle Peter said, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:12-13 New Living Translation). Talking about his trials, the Apostle Paul said, “I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews” (Acts 20:19 New Living Translation). Trials are common to all.
You can move from trials to triumph like those who have. Joseph’s trials ended in triumph. His brothers threw him into the pit, removed him, and sold him into slavery. He became Potiphar’s servant in Egypt and from there was thrown into prison from where he was taken to the palace to meet Pharaoh and became a Prime Minister. Although his road was rough, he triumphed eventually. Psalm 105:16-19 says, “He brought famine to the land. He took away their food supply. He sent a man ahead of them. He sent Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with shackles, and cut into his neck with an iron collar. The Lord’s promise tested him through fiery trials until his prediction came true” (GOD’S WORD Translation).
Whatever trials you are going through, cultivate a positive attitude – the attitude of a winner. Don’t query God, ask why you, or say God has failed you. Don’t feel like God has forsaken you. No. God is for you, not against you. He will work all things, including your trials, together for your good (Romans 8:28). You will move from trials to triumph. Your trials will not last forever; they will end in triumph.
The Apostle James said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 New King James Version). Also, Paul said, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3-4 New Living Translation).
Engage in prayer and fasting for victory as you face your trials and ask for wisdom from God, especially to make the right decisions. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8 New King James Version).
God knows how to rescue the righteous from their trials (2 Peter 2:9a). He will rescue you and you will sing songs of triumph. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “Be glad about this, even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed” (Good News Translation). Your trials are for a while, as this scripture says. Endure; persevere. After you have suffered a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you (1 Peter 5:10). You will triumph.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to persevere and overcome every trial. Father, let my trials turn into triumph in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
