This past Sunday the Adult 1 Sunday school class discussed trials and how they affect us and what we learn from them. Each of us has different trials we have been through in our lives that shaped who we are and how we depend on God to get us through.
We heard of trials ranging from tragedies, war, sickness and many others. My personal trials of most significance have been a rebellious child and a cancer scare with my wife. The trial with the cancer scare was the most intense emotional three days I have spent in my life thus far. I would try to be strong for Melinda and the kids during the day but after they were in bed I would set on the couch crying. I was desperate, and to be honest, a little angry with God. What I couldn’t understand is how at peace Melinda became with this health issue. The doctor had pretty much told her the end was near. If the cancer had spread to her lymph node, which he thought it had, there wasn’t much hope. But, Melinda had an insight that I didn’t; she gave it to God. God provided and she is with me today.
The common point to all the trials Melinda and I have faced is this; family. Sure we had our blood family to support us, cry with us and give us good advice, but there is another element of family. Our church family is the element we treasure. Don’t get me wrong we treasure our blood family and always will but our church family is different. We are a bunch of damaged, imperfect people whom come together in the common worship of Christ. We love each other in spite of ourselves. If we hadn’t had this church family during our trials things would have been very different. God may have still blessed us but we wouldn’t have experienced the comfort of the fellowship with our church family.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says:
9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, they will keep warm
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (NJKV)
I take comfort in these verses. Verses 9-11 deal with close personal relationships, such as husband/wife, parent/child or best friends. These are very important relationships but they must be based on God and with Godly people. I don’t know how I would go through the trials of life on a daily basis without Melinda. She is my everything here on earth. My kids also help me daily. Sometimes just a smile from one of your children in spite of the situation is enough to keep you going and know that it will be O.K.
The last verse is the strong one. “A threefold cord is not quickly broken”, that is the church. As we come together as a church we become stronger. We can come together to pray for the sick, minister to the broken hearted or just try to make an impact in our community. The church came together in our time of trial, every time, and we felt the impact of that power in our lives. It was the power of the Holy Spirit through God’s people. What an impact it was. I have sympathy for those who don’t have a family of God’s people to turn to in times of trial.
I lost my mom when I was 19. It was a trial that has forever shaped me but I didn’t have God’s people in my life at that time. I spent many years as an angry young man, full of hurt. It wasn’t until I met God and His people at Timber Ridge that I was able to overcome that to become the person I am today. I still hurt and miss my mom but my church family has filled that void enough to make it bearable.
If you are reading this and you don’t know Christ, I urge you to seek Him. If you don’t have a church family, find one. Timber Ridge is a great place, come visit us, maybe you’ll stay.