Getting surprised by a trial is often the reason we fail. “I wasn’t expecting this”. You see it in sports, when your opponent has a move or strength or ability that you weren’t expecting. It happens in grade school and in the pros. You see it in debates or interviews when you get surprised with a question that you weren’t expecting and are not prepared to answer. You get surprised when you join a class or company or a book club and are surprised that these people are way ahead of you…. more learned, smarter, richer, more traveled, etc. It’s not a good feeling. Often the first reaction to getting surprised is to want to “get out of town fast”… “I’m outta here”. I can’t cut this. I quit.
This situation has happened to essentially everyone. It happened to me in 5th grade as I arrived at St. Luke’s School with not one friend, behind in my studies, in a strange town, having just lost my father. I wanted to disappear. I remember my first night in Basic Training in Ft. Bliss Texas as the lights were going out… I wanted to run away. It happened many more times than I can remember. So what happened?
There’s a phrase burn your bridge behind you or you’ll be tempted to take it in times of trouble. “The phrase likely stems from military tactics where burning bridges prevented retreat, ensuring soldiers could not backtrack.” When you find yourself in a bind that you really want to get out of, if you have some ready options, you’ll be tempted to take them. If you have no options, then you have to stick it out. If God has called you to this task, then you really have no other option. The blessing comes in not quitting.
The first verse of the Book of Sirach (Chapter 2) tells us, “My son, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for trials.” There will always be trials. You can count on trials especially when you decide to serve the Lord. Sirach provides many helps when you find yourself in the midst of trials and are tempted to turn back; look at verses 2-10 from Chapter 2:
- 2 Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity.
- Don’t be hasty. It’s important to hang on, to give it some time, to pray and ask God for help. Often things will look better after a week or a month.
- 3 Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life.
- The Lord is the source of our strength. We need to grow in understanding this truth. We all desire to receive God’s honor at the end of our life.
- 4 Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient.
- Plan to be humbled. Plan to not be the star that you may have been in the past. Humility comes before honor. Christianity is a race for last place. It takes time to grow in humility. I’m 80 and still feel like I’m just beginning at times.
- 5 For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
- It’s not easy; sometimes this furnace is very hot and you can only cling to the Lord and beg for his help…”Help me Jesus” is a prayer that needs to always be on our lips.
- 6 Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him.
- Trust requires believing when the evidence is not in front of you. Jesus will help you. Once you place your trust in him, you will begin to experience his peace. It really does work… look for that peace.
- 7 You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest you fall.
- Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength… not easy, but it will comes… it’s a great moment when you begin to renew your strength.
- 8 You who fear the Lord, trust in him, and your reward will not fail;
- This is true.
- 9 you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, for everlasting joy and mercy.
- 10 Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord* and was put to shame? Or who ever persevered in the fear of the Lord and was forsaken? Or who ever called upon him and was overlooked?
- This is true. The Lord takes care of his sons & daughters…in his perfect way and perfect time.
Verses 11-18 are also true; check them out.
So, Lord help us to prepare for the trials that always come when we decide to serve you. Give us strength to stand firm when they come. Help us Jesus to stand. Give us your strength and hope that your blessings will be there to sustain us and that once we catch our breath, we will be so very happy that we decided to serve the Lord, regardless of the trials.
