Communion With God

Chapter 28—Prayer and Trials

BIBLE GEM

“He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”—Job 23:10 CWG 69.1

QUESTION

How may we meet the daily trials of life and the uncertainties of the future? CWG 69.2

ANSWER

“As thy days, so shall thy strength be”: “We are to follow Christ day by day. God does not bestow help for tomorrow. He does not give His children all the directions for their life journey at once, lest they should become confused. He ells them just as much as they can remember and perform. The strength and wisdom imparted are for the present emergency.”—The Desire of Ages, 313 CWG 69.3

Divine comfort: “Above the distractions of the earth He sits enthroned; all things are open to His divine survey; and from His great and calm eternity He orders that which His providence sees best.”—The Ministry of Healing, 417 CWG 69.4

“He measures every trial”: “God in His great love is seeking to develop in us the precious graces of His Spirit. He permits us to encounter obstacles, persecution, and hardships, not as a curse, but as the greatest blessing of our lives.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 117 CWG 69.5

“He measures every trial, He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 121 CWG 69.6

“All things work together”: “The Father's presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. Whatever comes to him comes from the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence.... All experiences and circumstances are God's workmen whereby good is brought to us.”—The Ministry of Healing, 488, 489 CWG 69.7

Ministry of sorrow: “In the full light of day, and in the hearing of the music of other voices, the caged bird will not sing the song that his master seeks to teach him. He learns a snatch of this, a trill of that, but never a separate and entire melody. But the master covers the cage, and places it where the bird will listen to the one song he is to sing. In the dark, he tries and tries again to sing that song until it is learned, and he breaks forth in perfect melody. Then the bird is brought forth, and ever after he can sing that song in the light. Thus God deals with His children. He has a song to teach us, and when we have learned it amid the shadows of affliction we can sing it ever afterward.”—The Ministry of Healing, 472 CWG 70.1

Rest in Christ's love: “Often your mind may be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms.”—The Ministry of Healing, 251 CWG 70.2

“When temptations assail you, when care, perplexity, and darkness seem to surround your soul, look to the place where you last saw the light. Rest in Christ's love and under His protecting care.”—The Ministry of Healing, 250 CWG 70.3

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

When we put our hands and hearts into the hand of God fully believing and trusting in Him, then we can have peace and confidence even while we are tried, tested, tempted and tossed by the circumstances of life or troubled by the enemy of our soul. CWG 70.4

When we are refined like gold in the fire then we are ready for use for service of value and we become a useful tool in the hand of God to bring gladness, comfort and joy to the hearts of many who are tempted and tried by the circumstances of life. CWG 70.5

Dear Lord, please help us to trust you with all of our hearts no matter what happens to us and teach us to hang on to your precious promises. CWG 70.6