Trusting God In The Trial

Jesus warned that many would depart from the faith prior to His return. The Christian life is not easy, in Matthew 7:14 Jesus refers to it as a narrow path. Many of us know someone who used to be a professing Christian and part of the church, but now no longer live in the Christian life. 

Many have drifted away from the faith, some have turned away to follow the world and there are many that have been led away by deception. When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, some believers were turning away from the true gospel. Although many of us think we can never fall or be deceived, we are all vulnerable, regardless of all our Bible knowledge, experiences or how long we have been a Christian. The Bible says many will be led away by deceiving spirits in the last days, which come through professing Christians within the church, religious leaders and preachers. As they are themselves deceived, they lead others astray.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

Persevering is difficult in times of adversity, temptation and trials. Satan plants seeds of doubt during these times and many turn away from the faith through disappointment and doubt. If we allow ourselves to become discouraged or bitter, we become vulnerable to his attacks and can easily be pulled away.

Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. (Luke 8:13)

Paul warned of denying or turning away from the truth of the gospel. This brings a strong delusion.

“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie”. (2 Thess. 2:9-11)

Christ’s emphasis on love can at times get distorted. World peace and religious tolerance should never come at the cost of compromising the truth and the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith. To love the truth also includes taking a firm stand for it, regardless of the cost. Denying the truth of the gospel is dangerous!

“It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them”. (2 Peter 2:21)

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be  revealed, the son of perdition; 

(2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Paul says a ‘falling away’ from faith by many will occur in the last days prior to the return Christ’, this is a global rebellion against God, the great apostasy, led by the Antichrist. We can easily become discouraged and lose faith, yet still continue to go through the motions of a religious lifestyle without realising we have drifted away. Not all backsliders leave the church and go back into the world. Because of the increase in wickedness in the last days, many believer’s faith will grow cold. With disasters and crisis constantly dominating the headline news, it will be difficult to focus on positive aspects of the end- times. Many will respond to events with bitterness, disappointment, fear and doubt.

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other…Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (Matt 24:19)

Maintaining a relationship with Christ daily, reading his word and being filled with the Holy spirit is our protection, along with regular fellowship with other Christians as part of the church. The Christian life is difficult, and we need to be alongside other believers to survive through the difficult days ahead. When we wander off and become isolated, we left vulnerable and easy prey for the enemy and his deceptions.

“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We need to guard our heart and mind as the world plunges even further into darkness and chaos before Christ’s return. We can easily forget God’s goodness, greatness and blessings. As Christians we will fail and struggle with sin, but God is able to keep us from falling. He can protect us from sin and error, so when we stand in His presence on that glorious day, we are found blameless!

"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling (falling) and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…. through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24–2)

Have there been times in your life when you experienced distress and needed direction from God? David had many successes in life, but he also had many struggles. Before he became king, he spent almost 10 years on the run from King Saul who sought to take his life. For a time, while being pursued, David stayed in Ziklag, he was the leader of a small community. In 1 Samuel 30:1-8, we read that while David and his men were away, the Amalekites came into David’s camp at Ziklag, raided it, destroyed it with fire and took all the women and children as captives. David’s wives were amongst them.

"Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. 

On returning to Ziklag, David and his men were in great distress. The men became angry, they even considered stoning David.

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. (1 Samuel 30:1-6)

David wept until he had no strength  (1 Samuel 30:4). He must have been disappointed, confused, possibly angry. Why had God allowed this disaster to come on them? As well as losing his own loved ones, his men turned against him and wanted to stone him.

It can be difficult to hear God during emotional turmoil. David needed to hear from God. He knew from past experiences that God was bigger than the situation in Ziklag. He didn’t understand how God had allowed this to happen, but he still sought the Lord. David found his strength in the Lord (verse 6).

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31)

David remembered how God was faithful, and he refused to doubt God. He enquired of the Lord before taking action. "shall I pursue this raiding party?" (v8). Despite the pressure from his angry men, David still took time to seek God for direction. God gave David the assurance that if he pursued the Amalekites, he would recover everything. David and his men pursued them. On the way, God provided them with guidance through an Egyptian slave who had been left behind by the raiding party. The slave led David and his men to the exact position where God gave them victory over their enemies. David and his men brought back all their loved ones and their possessions.

All things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28)

Many of us have experienced David’s emotions at some point in our life. Disaster comes, or things don’t turn out as we expected. Whatever our Ziklag may be, it is easy to get caught up in reasoning over our circumstances. Disappointment, hurt, doubt, unbelief and anger are understandable and normal emotions to experience during times of loss and disaster, but if we allow them to take root, and refuse God’s counsel, comfort, direction or healing and don't move on from ‘Ziklag’ it will destroy us spiritually!

Christians in Ziklag

We may not always understand God’s ways, but we can choose to trust Him. When hard-ships come, we can either withdraw from God or draw closer. Temporary discouragement will come during our Christian life, but becomes dangerous if we dwell there, or allow our anger or hurt to turn to bitterness. David’s men were distressed, understandably, they had just lost their loved ones. The Bible says the men became ‘bitter in spirit’. This was what led to them wanting to stone David, they blamed him for what had happened. Their actions reflected their hearts. When tragedies occur, many of us can look for someone to blame. Disappointment and hurt can develop into bitterness, We can carry on in the Christian life spiritually wounded and hurt, with an embittered spirit and dwell on the ‘why God’?

Disappointment leads to loss of hope and vision. We stop praying, reading the Bible, going to church if we get stuck on the ‘Why God?’ We can become more focused on what God has not done or allowed to happen. It is possible to become withdrawn inwardly, and not necessarily outwardly. We can become numb, living outwardly in the faith, without the enthusiasm and relationship with God we used to have. We can go through the motions of being a Christian without hope, barely surviving in the faith instead of living it. We need to guard our hearts, as we can become easy prey for the enemy. Drawing closer to God in times of trials is not easy. David was distressed, but he realised there was nowhere else to turn. We need to reflect on God’s faithfulness. We need to hear from God to receive His counsel, comfort, healing and direction. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

Ziklag is a story of recovery, taking back what the enemy has stolen. Forgive God if need be, don't blame yourself or others. Don’t focus on the things God has not fulfilled, you will only become even more discouraged, focus on the things that God has already done. Remember His promises, especially the personal ones.

The story of Daniel being cast into the lion’s den is detailed in chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel. Daniel was promoted into a high position in the kingdom by King Darius the Mede. Daniel’s enemies could find no fault in him to discredit him, instead they had conspired against him through jealousy and rivalry. They manipulated Darius into issuing a law that conflicted with Daniel’s belief in his God. This led to Daniel receiving the death penalty and being cast into a den of lions.

Through God’s favour on Daniel’s life and his obedience, he held position of administrator. He had previously served with distinction under king Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Daniel showed exceptional qualities, he was known for wisdom, integrity and faithfulness to God. Due to his skills, Daniel had been promoted into a top position over all the other administrators (Daniel 6:3).

Although Daniel was a faithful servant, he did not obey King Darius’s decree that everyone was to pray only to the king for 30 days. Daniel was aware of the decree that had been issued, but as usual he went home, knelt down, faced Jerusalem and prayed to God. He prayed three times a day with his windows open. His conspirers caught  him praying, just as they had intended and reported Daniel to the king. King Darius tried to save Daniel, but once a decree had been issued, it could not be revoked. The king was reminded from Daniels’ conspirers that the decree could not be reversed and he came under pressure to fulfil the decree and put Daniel in the lion’s den. King Darius was distressed for having to punish Daniel. 

“May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you” (Daniel 6:16).

There is nothing recorded of Daniel making an appeal, disputing the decree, or making a protest against it. A stone was placed over the mouth of the den. But God miraculously rescued Daniel by sending an angel to shut the mouths of the lions!

My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king." (Daniel 6:22)

Daniel was unharmed because he had trusted God and was removed from the lion’s den the next day. The King was overjoyed to find Daniel still alive. 

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:23)

The story ends with Daniel’s enemies being cast into the lion’s den. The trap they had set for Daniel, they were themselves cast into. God’s judgment came upon them.

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. (Daniel 6:24)

Although Daniel would have been an old man by this time, he remained faithful to God. Daniel refused to compromise his faith. It would have been easier to obey the decree, like everyone else. As Christians today, we face pressure to conform to the world’s standards. According to Bible prophecy, this becomes more intense in the last days.

Christian character is developed when our faith is being tested. God often allows trials for our faith to grow, or for other purposes we may not understand at the time. Daniel’s test of faith led to God being glorified in a pagan kingdom. King Darius wrote to all the nations, a decree was issued in His Kingdom that the God of Daniel was to be revered. 

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:26-27)

The outcome is similar to when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a blazing fiery furnace for refusing to obey a decree issued by Nebuchadnezzar to worship an image of gold. Daniel did not focus on how his enemies schemes had been successful. He focused on God, as he knew God was bigger than the lions and his enemies.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8)

God will Shut the Mouths of your Enemies

God’s angels have the ability to shut the mouths of lions and are often sent to take care of the lions in our life. The devil is referred to as a 'roaring lion'. He uses people to carry out his evil schemes, but God will close the mouths of your adversaries and critics and shut down the enemies plans.