It would be easy to proclaim the love of the Lord in our lives when we are not enduring trial. God tends to work in opposites, for example, those who are weak the Lord gives them strength, a wise man does not claim to be wise but a fool does, those who are poor have something to boast about, we must be quick to listen and slow to speak, so it is that in trial we must consider it pure joy, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kind, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
As Christians, we must persevere under trial. The Greek word perseverance means "an abiding under; to abide." In some New Testament cases, it means "patience". When we go through challenging times, we must, we must abide in Christ. What does it mean to abide in Him?
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anything does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." John 15:1-8
To abide means to be connected to Christ. Christ is the means by which we have life. If we are not connected with him, we will die and not produce fruit. John 15 says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you...." How do we connect and remain connected to Christ?, we can be connected to Christ by knowing AND obeying His word for James 2:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." By studying His word by having constant reliance on Him we not only know who Christ is but we know who Christ is in us.
When I gave my life to Christ, about a week later I had a dream. Up to that point, I have been diving into the word in the New Testament. I couldn't stop reading and felt as if I needed to absorb everything I could as quickly as I could. In my dream, I was in a dark room standing in front of a wooden desk. Sitting at the desk was a large bald man. I didn't know him. The man started saying things to me like, "God doesn't love you. " and in my dream I was able to recite bible verses by the verse: John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." God cannot protect you here, Psalm 91:11-12, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."... I cannot remember all the questions now, but I woke up realizing that the word of God had been written on my heart and was reminded that I must remain in the Lord by remaining in His word because the world will test me. The world will try to destroy Christ and Christ in me.
You cannot be abiding in Christ if you are not seeking His word. You will forget who you are. What does the Lord say to those who do not abide in Him? "If anything does not abide in Me, he is cast out..." And those who do abide in Him? "and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit." You will go through trial and you will be pruned. So remember, trial can be painful, but it is so that you may become refined in Christ. Remember, this can ONLY happen if you are so connected to Christ that you're entire existence is dependent upon Him.
As you are seeking Him in His word, especially through trial, let these promises comfort you:
"The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." -Exodus 14:14
"More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance," -Romans 5:3
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ." -1 Peter 5:10
