Thank God that all trials eventually end. However, it is not the fact of the trial’s end (termination) that is the most meaningful end (outcome) of the trial. Far better than the reality of a trial’s ending is the manner in which it ends. Many verses which teach the temporary nature of trials also hint at or even boldly declare the blessed result that comes after.
First, the end of a trial brings welcome relief and abundant joy. “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal” (Job 5:18). “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
Second, the end of a trial often brings restoration and renewal of blessing. Beginning with “You have tried us, O God,” the psalmist goes on to describe being refined as silver, being brought into a net, bearing an oppressive burden, having men riding over his head, and going through fire and water. Then he concludes, “Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:10-12). Job had to endure much, but later there was the compassionate and merciful outcome of the Lord’s dealings (James 5:11).
Third, by God’s design, the end of a trial also brings measurable growth, maturity, and stability. “When [after] He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (I Peter 5:10).
Fourth, the end of a trial even brings glory to God that will last into eternity. "Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith ... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6-7)
Really good things happen in the “after,” but the “during” is not so pretty. That’s just reality, reflecting God’s pattern of sanctification. Sometimes while deep in the “during,” we want to shine the same as we will in the “after.” We want to have all the maturity and all the answers now. We want to be able to process everything thoroughly so that we can respond with great depth and certainty. Of course, we can thank God for glimpses of truth and growth that He gives along the way. We can thank Him for moments of reprieve, for instances of refreshing truth, and for infusions of internal strength, all of which can happen in the “during.” Nevertheless, there is the reality that it is hard to process everything properly and formulate completely right ideas in the “during.” We don’t yet see the full picture. We are influenced by emotion and pain. We haven’t yet experienced the healing and completing stage. The work is God’s, and so is its timing, and we can’t finish it more quickly than God finishes it.
In the “during,” we must have patience. We must seek God and seek His truth. We should desire to take each step that God presents to us. In the meanwhile, however, we cannot be too hard on ourselves by expecting the fullness of the “after” while we are in the “during.” We do not yet have the fullness of joy and relief. We do not yet have the restoration and renewed blessing. We do not yet have the God-given completion, maturity, and stability that come in the “after.” We are not yet fully prepared to shine for His glory. This is not the time to boldly rush forward, to be the leader; this is the time to quietly submit and be pliable. We can strive for, desire, and pray for the effects of the “after.” Meanwhile, we must rest and be at peace in the “during,” even though it is uncomfortable and unsettled.
In the midst of our discouragement, we might think things will never get better. We might wait and wait, thinking the end will never come, but when we finally reach the “after,” God often does so much in such a short time that we are left amazed. In reality, He is working the entire time, but there is a tremendous impact in the conclusion, when He brings all things together. We must not despair in the ugliness of the “during,” because God can cause us to emerge into the “after” with far more benefit and with greater speed that we ever could have dreamed.
After a break of nearly two years, I am reviving my blog, at least for now. I became focused in different writing endeavors during COVID, and then my own battle with long COVID prevented me from resuming. While I remain deeply ensconced in that personal battle, it is a sign of some progress that I am even considering writing again. Much of the content will be shaped by my on-going trial, but I hope that what I share will be in keeping with the theme of the blog, which is that of pressing on to higher ground. That should be our goal, no matter where we currently are. Whether in weak immaturity, in temporary struggle, in comfortable stability, or even in spiritual strength, the goal should always be to proceed further than where we are. (Philippians 3:12-14)
There are many reasons for my resuming. Writing has historically been a venue through which God has enabled me to use my spiritual gifts, and I miss that. I personally need reminders of truth, and making the effort to prepare things to share with others is one of the best ways for me to focus on helpful truth. I trust that God will use my writing of His truth as a means of edifying others. Ultimately, I desire to bring glory to God, something that I trust will be accomplished by all of the above.
One reason, other than having no energy, that I have not done much writing lately is that I am keenly aware that I am in the “during.” I have deeply sensed my own weakness, my challenges in remembering and processing truth. The battles have been, and often continue to be, very fierce. I’m not at the refined gold, the peaceful fruits of righteousness, or the firm establishment and maturity. In the big picture, that will never be fully true in this life, but in my current context, I am especially aware that I am still waiting for that divine culminating work. So to some extent, sharing seems hypocritical and shaky, because I know how incomplete and inconsistent the lessons and truths are. But I believe that God prompted me, so if you choose to read my posts, I hope that you will allow me to fight for truth personally through this means, and I trust that God will use it to encourage your heart as well. I realize that my lessons might be imperfect and that I might not always remember them myself, but by God’s grace, it is my desire to pursue higher ground. So read if you wish, evaluate and filter with Scripture, and take for yourself what is helpful and true.
