Austin's Blog

If you find yourself in the midst of trial and tribulations, there are precious truths to cling to as you endure. Andrew Murray writes, “In times of trouble, say, “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.”  Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow.”  And last, say, “In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows.”  Therefore, say, “I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.”

“I am here by God’s appointment.”

Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereign will. If we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we can trust that He has allowed it for a purpose. If we had His power, we might change things. If we had His infinite wisdom, things would stay the same. Even in trials, we can rest in the assurance that God has appointed our steps.

• Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
• Genesis 50:20 – Joseph, though sold into slavery, later told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

“I am in His keeping.”

God does not abandon His children in hardship. Instead, He sustains us with His love and grace. There’s not a promise that there aren’t any storms. The promise is the Captain of the seas will be with us in the boat. We will come through it by His sustaining hand. Even in the midst of trials, we remain secure in His care.

• Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• Psalm 121:7-8 – “The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
• John 10:28-29 – Jesus says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

“I am under His training.”

God uses trials to refine and teach us, growing us in faith and character. The “good” of Romans 8:28-30 is Christlikeness and conformity to His will, not earthly wellbeing, comfort, and ease. He wastes nothing. He is doing something within and through us in the midst of our trials. Every hardship is an opportunity to grow spiritually as we learn from the Lord.

• Hebrews 12:11 – “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
• James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
• Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

“I am here for His time.”

God’s timing is perfect, and He will bring us through trials in His own way and at the right time. Even if the trial ends in our departure, that is but an expedition of our journey into the land where we have always belonged, the life after this life. Though we may long for relief, we can trust that He knows the perfect time for deliverance.

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
• 1 Peter 5:10 – “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.”
• Psalm 31:15 – “My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”

Let me challenge you when life gets difficult as a Christian, repeat those four phrases from Andrew Murray:

“I am here by God’s appointment.”

“I am in His keeping.”

“I am under His training.”

“I am here for His time.”