Another Trial<\/p>\n
This morning I am facing a trial. It would not be appropriate for me to give the details. But I\u2019m feeling worry and stress.<\/p>\n
In the past I have thought about writing on whether trials are from Satan or from God. And what could be a better time for this than when I\u2019m in the midst of a trial?<\/p>\n
So here goes \u2014<\/p>\n
From Satan Or God?<\/p>\n
Is this trial an attack from Satan? Or has it been purposefully allowed by God? The reason we ask is because if it\u2019s from Satan, we will seek to resist it, pray against it, and try to overcome it.<\/p>\n
But if it\u2019s from God, we will seek to accept it, surrender to His will, and rejoice through it.<\/p>\n
So which is it?<\/p>\n
Some Trials Are Clearly From Satan<\/p>\n
We can see that from many Scriptures \u2014
\n \u2022 Luke describes a woman whose spine had been bent over for 18 years by an evil spirit (Luke 13:11).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul says the Evil One fires flaming darts at us (Eph 6:16).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul says Satan hindered him from visiting the Thessalonians (1Th 2:18).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul said his thorn in the flesh was a messenger from Satan to harass him (2Cor 12:7).
\n So some trials are clearly from Satan. But the Bible also says \u2014<\/p>\n
Some Trials Are Clearly From God<\/p>\n
There are many examples \u2014
\n \u2022 Peter says if we suffer for doing good it\u2019s because God willed it (1Pe 3:17).<\/p>\n
\u2022 The psalmist says God \u201cafflicts us in faithfulness\u201d (Psa 119:75).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Moses says it\u2019s ultimately God who allows people\u2019s sicknesses (Exo 4:11).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Amos says that if disaster comes to a city the Lord has done it (Amos 3:6).
\n So some trials are clearly from Satan, and some clearly from God. But then we have to ask \u2014<\/p>\n
Which Are From Satan, And Which Are From God?<\/p>\n
The Bible shows us something puzzling: the same trial can be both from Satan and from God.<\/p>\n
Take Job\u2019s trials. His oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels were stolen or killed; his servants were killed; his children were killed; his health was destroyed.<\/p>\n
So where did these trials come from?<\/p>\n
They were clearly from Satan, since they came to Job from Satan\u2019s hand (Job 1:12; Job 2:6).<\/p>\n
But they were also from God, because Satan had to get permission from God to do them (Job 1:12; Job 2:6).<\/p>\n
So even though Satan brought the trials, Job said \u201cthe Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord\u201d (Job 1:21) and \u201cShall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?\u201d (Job 2:10).<\/p>\n
So if someone asked Job \u2014 Are your trials from Satan or God? \u2014 he would have answered \u2014 Both. They were from both Satan and God.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s what we see is true of every trial.<\/p>\n
Every Trial Is From Satan<\/p>\n
Look at the following Scriptures \u2014
\n \u2022 Paul says the Christian life means wrestling against spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:12). Which means in some way our wrestling is always against Satan.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Peter says that when we suffer we need to resist Satan who is seeking to devour us like a lion (1Pet 5:8-9). So in some way all our suffering involves Satan.<\/p>\n
\u2022 James says that when we are tempted by friendship with the world and pride we must resist the devil (Jam 4:4-7). Which makes it sound like all temptation involves Satan.
\n But the Bible also teaches that \u2014<\/p>\n
Every Trial Is From God<\/p>\n
This truth is harder to understand. And it\u2019s especially difficult if you are right in the middle of a heart-breaking trial. But it is taught throughout God\u2019s Word, and when rightly understood it brings deep comfort.
\n \u2022 In Isa 45:7 God says He brings us both well-being and calamity; which means everything in our lives ultimately comes from Him either directly or by permission.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul says every affliction we will ever face has been destined for us by God (1 Thess 3:2-3).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Paul says God will only allow us to be tempted in ways we can handle, which shows that every temptation is allowed by God (1 Cor 10:13).
\n So every trial is from both Satan and God. But not in the same way. There are \u2014<\/p>\n
Crucial Differences<\/p>\n
One difference involves sovereignty. Every trial is brought to us by Satan. But Satan can only do this by God\u2019s permission. Which means every trial is ultimately under God\u2019s wise, loving, and sovereign control.<\/p>\n
The other difference involves purpose. Satan\u2019s purpose for every trial is to weaken our faith and take us farther from God. But God\u2019s purpose for every trial is to strengthen our faith and draw us nearer to Him.<\/p>\n
What This Means For Us<\/p>\n
This morning I\u2019m facing a trial that\u2019s small. But some of you are facing trials that are huge \u2014 the loss of a loved one, years of unemployment, chronic pain, or worse. So how should we respond to trials?
\n \u2022 Don\u2019t wonder if they are from Satan or God. They are from Satan\u2019s hand by God\u2019s wise, loving, and sovereign permission.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Understand that Satan\u2019s purpose for this trial is to weaken your faith and take you farther from God.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Resist Satan\u2019s purpose by coming to Christ as you are, trusting Him to be all you need. Ask Him to strengthen and comfort you through His Word. Pray over His promises until you feel the Holy Spirit changing your heart.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Understand that God\u2019s purpose for this trial is to strengthen your faith and draw you nearer to God. Sometimes He does this by delivering you from the trial, since this can show you more of who He is. So humbly and earnestly ask for this.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Realize that sometimes God chooses to have the trial stay, as a way of giving you even more of Himself. So pray over God\u2019s promises until the Holy Spirit strengthens your faith and you experience Christ as your all-satisfying Treasure.
\n A Final Word of Comfort<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what Peter says to his readers who are suffering \u2014<\/p>\n
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Another Trial This morning I am facing a trial. It would not be appropriate for me to give the details. But I\u2019m feeling worry and stress. In the past I have thought about writing on whether trials are from Satan or from God. And what could be a better time for this than when I\u2019m […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[966,251,965,963,139,145,154,964],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7951"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7951\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}