When in a trial, it is good to remember, “The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” The author is unknown, but the words are true.
We all have and will experience very difficult circumstances in the course of our lives. Thankfully, all the trials we have serve a particular purpose. The Apostle James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3). Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is, therefore, a part of God’s mind and character. Trials, the testing of our faith, are then extremely important!
Patience can be hindered though. “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). We must let or allow patience to develop its perfect work. If we do not, we can hinder it by murmuring or complaining. Neither of these things are difficult to do and each is an expression of faithlessness. It is actually the natural, carnal response to any undesired circumstance.
Consider the example of Corrie ten Boom, author of “The Hiding Place,” and her sister Betsie ten Boom. In her book, Corrie describes very graphically what life was like for herself, her sister and all the many others whom they shared space within a concentration camp during WWII. Existence in that trial was harsh, sad and seemingly hopeless to most caught in its grasp. One of the worst of their circumstances was a horrible infestation of lice in the particular barracks that they were assigned to. It seemed so logical and right to Corrie to hate the trial and to complain — to not let patience have its perfect work.
Betsie, however, did not hinder the work of patience. She knew from her daily interactions with Corrie that her sister was becoming a bitter person. So, she reminded Corrie daily of I Thessalonians 5:18. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” She told her to be sure to thank God for allowing the circumstance of lice because that was a part of “all things.” It defied carnal, human logic, but Corrie finally followed her sister’s lead. It was not until the war was over that Corrie got to meet one of the guards in her barracks. From her, she learned that the lice were the reason those particular barracks ceased being searched daily. That was the reason their Bible was never found. Their Bible and the substance within it, is what Corrie believed kept them sane in their trial.
Being thankful in our trials is a spiritual matter. It defies carnal human logic because it is an expression of faith toward God as we patiently look to Him. So be thankful in your patience and remember, “The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”
Update: The Feast activity schedule for Oxnard has been uploaded to the website and can be seen at – https://thefatherscall.org/feast-tabernacles-2022/
Marshall Stiver
