Jesus said in John 16:33 – “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Look at what Jesus said real closely. He said “I have told you all this…” All what? Read verses 1-33 and you’ll see things like persecution coming, the Holy Spirit coming, sadness turning into joy, the love of God for them, declaring in Jesus name, and much more. Nowhere in there does it say anything about God putting them through a trial.
Here’s more proof that God doesn’t put us through trials. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus said “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Today’s troubles are enough for today? Why didn’t He say “the trouble God put on you today is enough for now. Don’t worry ahead of time about the trouble He is going to put on you tomorrow”.
Ministers will mix religion and legalism with the true gospel of grace and say things like God puts us through a trial so we can know what a great Lord He is. That’s not what John 16:33 says. It says Here on EARTH you will have many trials. Another translation says that in this world you will have tribulation. Then comes one of the big “buts” in the bible. “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.
The whole point of a trial is to give you something, not to take anything away from you. It is to advance you. It is to add something to you. God does not PUT you in the trial, but He’s not surprised when you are in a trial, because He’s already defeated it. He will not put you in the fire, but He will take you through the fire. Not around it, not destroy it, but take you through it. He’s always there with you.
People constantly say things like “why did God do this to me”, or “why did God cause this to happen”. It’s the wrong question. When you find yourself in a difficult situation, you ought to be saying “I can’t wait to see the blessing God has for me in all of this, because I know what the enemy intends for bad, God will turn into a blessing”.
When people say things like that it reminds me of a story. Two guys were driving down the highway and came up on a terrible accident. There were highway patrol cars, ambulances, EMS, cops, and wreckers on the scene. One guy said to the other. “How terrible. I wonder what happened? Who is at fault? I wonder what caused that accident?” The other guy says “I know exactly what caused that accident. You see all those patrol cars, ambulances, EMS, cops, and wreckers? They caused the accident.” The first guy says “why would you say that”. The second said “Because every time I’ve ever come upon an accident, those things and people are always there”.
So, bad things happen in our lives, and if we are improperly taught the truth or are weak in faith, we’ll say something like God caused it. The truth is it’s like the story above. Something bad occurs and all those people show up to clean up the accident site and help the injured. It’s the same with God. Something bad happens in our life and God shows up to help us through it, so He gets blamed for causing it.
God can win with any hand. He will always turn a difficulty into a victory that aligns with His perfect plan for your life. By the way, that’s a difficulty that comes as a result of the enemy who is here to steal, kill, and destroy, or a difficulty that comes from your poor choices. God is not surprised or caught unaware. He has been to the end of your life and knows exactly what’s going on every second of your life.
Well, if God knows exactly what is about to happen, then why doesn’t He prevent it from happening. Because, God allows in his wisdom what he could easily prevent by his power. He did not create puppets in his image, He created man in His own image.
Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. I didn’t say God causes you to be sick, or hurt, or sad. But because of His wisdom and because He is omniscient, He can see the worth of any situation. So, what He allows is for you to make a choice. He allows you your right to choose even when He knows it’s the wrong choice. Then He’s there with you through the consequence of that choice to ensure good comes from it.
So, He doesn’t cause or allow things to happen to you, but He’s not caught off guard by them. He already knows how His perfect plan for you will be fulfilled through the trial your in. God cannot give to you that which He does not have. So, how can He give you sickness or despair. What He will do is be there with you through any situation.
Well, here comes the wrong teaching once again. Ministers will say "Our God is a consuming fire. He sends His children through fiery trials". Peter said “think it not strange of the fiery trial you go through”. They will use that scripture in 1 Peter 4:12 to try and prove their religious point that God puts you through trials.
Lets see what Peter really said. “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” As I read this, I see it saying the fiery trials you are going through. That lines up with what Jesus said. In this world you will have trials and don’t worry about tomorrow because the troubles of the day are great enough. However, I didn’t see where it said the fiery trials God put you in.
James 1:12-18.
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Wait! What? Did that just say that God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation? YES IT DID. But what it didn’t say was that He only blesses the ones that endure His testing and temptation.
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
NEVER? Yep, that’s what it says….NEVER!
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
Right there in that verse it tells you where stuff happens. It’s from our own desires, which entice us and drags us away. Away from what? Away from the truth.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
Now there’s a good word. Don’t be misled in anything, but be led by the Spirit of Truth which is the Holy Spirit.
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
Now just look at this. It first says “whatever is good and perfect is a gift from God”. Then it goes on to say “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. So my question here is if He never tempts you (vs 13) and He gives you only good and perfect gifts (vs 17) and He never changes (vs 17), then how can He put you into trials and troubles?
18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
Right there is an excellent place to end this part 1 about Fiery Trials. You should be shouting right now. HE CHOOSES US. Out of everything God created, He chose us to be His prized possession. Wow!!! Grace and Peace.
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