Everyone faces trouble in life. But for the Christian, it is important that we know how to handle the trials that we will encounter in a way that will please God.
The apostle Paul is an example of one who had many struggles in this life. His suffering was such that he told the brethren in Corinth, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31) and that he was “in danger every hour” (1 Corinthians 15:30). In his second letter to these brethren he spoke of the suffering he faced for the cause of Christ – labors, imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, and more (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). When he wrote to the brethren in Philippi, he mentioned that there were times in which he was “going hungry” and “suffering need” (Philippians 4:12).
How was Paul able to handle all of this? He told the Philippians, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
As we face trials in this life, we can handle them as Paul did – through Christ. But what exactly does this mean? In practical terms, what must we do to overcome these hardships? What does God provide to aid us in our efforts? What attitude must we have to be successful in dealing with the trials of life? To answer these questions, we must look to the word of God.
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Benjamin Franklin famously said, “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” A common variation of this quote is, “People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.” Though the founding father and those who use this quote today are referring to matters relating to civil government, there is a spiritual truth contained in the statement. How this principle applies to our spiritual lives is of far greater importance than how it applies to the power of human government. So let us consider the spiritual implications of this principle.
