Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge?

 

Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge?

Die Bybel is 'n brutaal eerlike boek. Dit wys nie sy karakters as toringhelde nie, maar as swak mans en vroue met al hulle tekortkominge en foute. Die Bybel fokus nooit op die krag en moed van sy karakters nie, maar fokus eerder op God se genade om hulle in hul nood te help. Die Bybel gaan oor die grootheid van God, en die swakheid van mense wat deur hierdie groot God gehelp word.

Dit is ook waar wanneer mans en vroue in die Bybel probleme ondervind. Job, Habakuk, Klaagliedere en 40% van die Psalms praat oor hartseer en weeklag. Daar is ook baie te sê oor die saak in die Nuwe Testament.

Dikwels is die beproewinge wat ons in die gesig staar, buite ons vermoë om te hanteer. Dit is waar, en die apostel Paulus vertel ons van sy eie ervaring hiervan in 2 Korintiërs 1:8-9: “Want ons wil nie hê, broeders, dat julle onbekend moet wees met ons verdrukking wat oor ons in Asië gekom het nie, dat ons dit bo ons krag uitermate swaar gehad het, sodat ons selfs aan ons lewe gewanhoop het. Ja, ons het al self by onsself die doodvonnis oor ons gehad.”

Beproewinge en probleme was nooit deel van God se oorspronklike plan vir die mens nie, dit het gekom as gevolg van sonde. Dit word duidelik in Genesis 3:16-19 waar die effek van sonde deur God uitgespel word. “Aan die vrou het Hy gesê: Ek sal grootliks vermeerder jou moeite en jou swangerskap; met smart sal jy kinders baar; en na jou man sal jou begeerte wees, en hy sal oor jou heers. En aan die mens het Hy gesê: Omdat jy geluister het na die stem van jou vrou en van die boom geëet het waarvan Ek jou beveel het om nie te eet nie—vervloek is die aarde om jou ontwil; met moeite sal jy daarvan eet al die dae van jou lewe. Ook sal dit vir jou dorings en distels voortbring; en jy sal die plante van die veld eet. In die sweet van jou aangesig sal jy brood eet totdat jy terugkeer na die aarde, want daaruit is jy geneem. Want stof is jy, en tot stof sal jy terugkeer.”

Selfs as gelowiges sal ons beproewinge ervaar. Jesus sê vir Sy dissipels in Johannes 16:33: “Dit het Ek vir julle gesê, dat julle in My vrede kan hê. In die wêreld sal julle verdrukking hê.” In Filippense 1:29 sê Paulus: “omdat dit aan julle ter wille van Christus genadiglik gegee is om nie alleen in Hom te glo nie, maar ook vir Hom te ly.”

Christene gaan deur beproewinge. Hulle gaan selfs deur beproewinge vir hulle geloof. Maar waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge? Paulus sluit sy stelling in 2 Korintiërs 1:9 af deur te verduidelik waarom: “Sodat ons nie op onsself sou vertrou nie, maar op God wat die dode opwek.”

Ek wil hierdie vraag beantwoord: Waarom gaan Christene deur beproewinge? Ek wil hê ons moet sien: Beproewinge is bedoel om die gelowige op God te laat staatmaak. Ons kyk na 3 redes vir beproewinge

 

1. Beproewinge is 'n toets van ons geloof

Luister hoe 1 Petrus 1:6-7 dit stel: “Daarin verheug julle jul, al word julle nou—as dit nodig is—’n kort tydjie bedroef onder allerhande beproewinge, sodat die beproefdheid van julle geloof, wat baie kosbaarder is as goud wat vergaan maar deur vuur gelouter word, bevind mag word tot lof en eer en heerlikheid by die openbaring van Jesus Christus.”

Wanneer ons oomblikke van twyfel oor ons geloof in die gesig staar, sal ons volharding en God se getrouheid as bewys dien dat ons geloof eg is. Daar is baie wat beweer dat hulle gelowiges is, maar wanneer beproewinge kom, wend hulle hul nie tot God nie. Hulle wend hulle tot wêreldse oplossings, wêreldse mense, tot alles en almal behalwe die Here. Dit kan 'n aanduiding wees dat hulle geloof nie eg is nie. 

Hulle probeer hierdie moeilikheid in hul eie krag of die krag van my trotseer; hulle het van God vergeet. Beproewinge wys ons of ons geloof eg is. Beproewinge wys ons waar ons geloof versterk moet word. 

In 2 Korintiërs 16:33 het Paulus sy eie swakheid besef en hom tot die Here gewend. Dit is wat ware geloof doen: Dit roep uit na God! Watter beproewinge jy ook al deurmaak, of dit nou beproewinge van siekte, in die gesin, by die werk of beproewinge ter wille van jou geloof is. Wend jou tot die Here, dit is wat ware geloof doen. 

Wat beteken dit om jou tot die Here te wend? Dit beteken om daaroor te bid. Dit beteken om die Here daaroor te vertrou. Dit beteken om nie jou geestelike dissiplines, insluitend kerk toe gaan, te verwaarloos nie. Dit beteken dat jy aanvaar dat God beter in staat is om hierdie situasie te hanteer en dat jy op Hom vertrou. 

Maar dit beteken nie dat jy agteroor sit en niks doen nie. Jy moet doen wat jy in die beproewing moet doen, en jy moet doen wat reg is. Jou vertroue is egter nie meer op jou eie vermoë of krag nie, maar op die Here. Hy wat selfs die dooies kan opwek, sê Paulus.

 

2. Beproewinge korrigeer en bou ons geloof

Volgens Lukas 17:5 het die apostels vir die Here gesê: “Gee ons meer geloof”. As daar een ding is wat ons geloof versterk, is dit beproewinge. Dit is hoekom die Here se broer in Jakobus 1:2-4 sê: “Ag dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande versoekinge val, omdat julle weet dat die beproewing van julle geloof lydsaamheid bewerk. Maar die lydsaamheid moet tot volle verwerkliking kom, sodat julle volmaak en sonder gebrek kan wees en in niks kortkom nie.” 

Een van die redes waarom God beproewinge oor ons lewens bring, is om ons geloof in Hom te versterk: Dit is om ons meer op Hom te laat vertrou. Deur beproewinge roep die Here ons terug na Hom waar ons Sy genade, barmhartigheid en krag ontmoet. 

Beproewinge kan angs en bekommernis veroorsaak, maar die antwoord hierop is: Vertrou die Here! As ons die Here vertrou, sal Hy ons deur ons beproewinge dra en al ons bekommernis en angs sal bedaar. Ek sê nie dat die trane sal verdwyn nie, hulle mag dalk bly, maar angs sal vervang word met vertroue. 

Die Christelike lewe word in die werklike wêreld geleef met werklike probleme, werklike vrese, werklike kwessies, werklike probleme. Maar vir die Christen is God ook werklik en so ook is Sy krag en vermoë om ons deur dit alles te help. Ek het gevind dat beproewinge juis die ding is wat nie net my geloof bevraagteken nie, maar ook juis die ding is wat my geloof versterk. Dit help my om my weë te ondersoek en help my om te sien of daar enige goddelose weë in my is waarvan ek my moet bekeer. So korrigeer beproewinge my; dit lei my na die regte pad. Dit maak my ook bewus daarvan dat ek in my eie krag te swak is om hierdeur te gaan en draai my na God, om op Hom staat te maak, om Hom te vertrou, om aan Hom vas te hou. So bou beproewinge my geloof op maniere wat 'n lewe sonder beproewinge nie kan doen nie, wetende dat die Here goed in staat is om veel meer te doen as wat jou beproewing vereis en Hy sal Sy kinders nie verlaat nie. 

Selfs dít is in jou pad geplaas, nie om jou geloof te verswak of jou skade aan te doen nie, maar om jou geloof te versterk deur jou te help groei en des te meer op Hom te vertrou. Beproewinge is bedoel om hoop te gee, sê Romeine 5:3-4: “En nie alleen dit nie, maar ons roem ook in die verdrukkinge, omdat ons weet dat die verdrukking lydsaamheid werk, en die lydsaamheid beproefdheid en die beproefdheid hoop.” Lyding kweek dus in die gelowige die vermoë om daardeur te volhard. Hierdie volharding kweek 'n meer goddelike karakter in ons, en deur dit alles gee dit ons hoop dat ons God waaragtig is, ons geloof in Hom opreg is en daarom het ons hoop. Hoop, nie net om deur hierdie beproewing te gaan nie, maar hoop dat ons die ewige lewe sal ontvang, want God is getrou. In 2 Korintiërs 4:17 sê Paulus: “Want ons ligte verdrukking wat vir ‘n oomblik is, bewerk vir ons ‘n alles oortreffende ewige gewig van heerlikheid.” Dit is waar van die gelowige, en ja, dit spreek van lyding vir die geloof, maar die rede waarom die gelowige se einde “'n alles oortreffende ewige gewig van heerlikheid” is, is omdat hy deur geloof volhard en in Christus-gelykvormigheid groei te midde hiervan. Dit wys dat Sy geloof eg is en dit is wat hom hoop gee vir die ewige lewe.

 

3. Beproewinge lei ons om God te verheerlik

Luister hoe 1 Petrus 4:16 dit stel: “Wanneer iemand as ‘n Christen ly, moet hy hom nie skaam nie, maar God verheerlik in hierdie opsig.” Laat ek jou herinner aan wat 'n aantal verse waarna ons reeds gekyk het, gesê het: 

• 1 Petrus 1:6 “Daarin verheug julle jul, al word julle nou—as dit nodig is—’n kort tydjie bedroef onder allerhande beproewinge”. 
• Jakobus 1:2 “Ag dit louter vreugde, my broeders, wanneer julle in allerhande versoekinge val” 
• Filippense 1:29 “omdat dit aan julle ter wille van Christus genadiglik gegee is om nie alleen in Hom te glo nie, maar ook vir Hom te ly.” 

Stel jou voor dat ons beproewinge, in plaas van angs en bekommernis, ons daartoe sal lei om die Here te dank, dat Hy ons hierdie geleentheid gegee het om te sien of ons geloof eg is en ook om ons sondige weë reg te stel en ons geloof te versterk. Stel jou voor dat ons, in plaas daarvan om oorweldig te word deur ons omstandighede, oorweldig staan oor die soewereiniteit van God, wat selfs deur dit, en in dit, ook alles ten goede sal laat meewerk. 

Beproewinge is bedoel, soos Paulus in 2 Korintiërs 1:9 gesê het, “sodat ons nie op onsself sou vertrou nie, maar op God wat die dode opwek.” Dit is bedoel om ons te laat besef dat God veel groter is as wat ons ooit gedink het en dat Hy vertrou kan word. Die enigste aanvaarbare reaksie hierop moet wees om Hom te verheerlik wat inderdaad alle lof waardig is, selfs in tye van beproewing. 

As 'n Christen kan daar tye kom waar jy voor beproewinge te staan kom. Of dit nou groot of klein beproewinge is, God is goed in staat om jou daardeur te dra en dit te gebruik om jou geloof te laat groei. Hy het 'n doel hiervoor en die doel wat Hy hiervoor het, is Sy heerlikheid en jou beswil soos alles in jou lewe. 

So, vind 'n rede om jou in die Here te verbly te midde van wat jy ook al in die gesig staar, en bring eer aan Sy waardige Naam.

Why do Christians go through trials?

Why do Christians go through trials?

The Bible is a brutally honest book.  It shows us it’s characters not as towering heroes, but as weak men and women with all their flaws and faults.  The Bible never focuses on their strength and courage, but it rather focusses on God’s grace in helping them in their need.  The Bible is about the greatness of God, and the weakness of men who is helped by this great God.  This is also true when men and women in the Bible met with trails, which is the subject of our study this morning.  Job, Habakuk, Lamentations and 40% of the Psalms speak about sorrow and lament.  There is also much to say about the matter in the New Testament.  And often, the trials we face are beyond our ability to handle.  This much is true and the apostle Paul tells us of his own experience of this in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 where he says “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.” 

Now let me say, it was never God’s original intention that we should find trials and troubles in life.  These came as a result of sin.  This becomes clear from Genesis 3:16-19 already where the effect of sin was pronounced by God.  “To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’ And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”  

Even as believers we will experience trials.  Jesus speaking to His disciples in John 16:33 says “I have said these things to you, that in my you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.” In Philippians 1:29 Paul says “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” 

Christians go through trials.  Christians even go through trials because of their faith.  But why? Paul ends that statement in 2 Corinthians explaining why: “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 

I want to answer this question: Why do Christians go through trials? I want us to see: Trials are intended to make the believer rely on God. We look at 3 reasons for trials

 

1. Trails are a test of our faith

Listen to how the apostle puts it in 1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

When we face moments of doubt about our faith, our perseverance and God’s faithfulness will stand as evidence that our faith is genuine.  There are many who claim to be believers, but when trials come they do not turn to God.  They turn to worldly solutions, they turn to worldly people, they turn to everything and everyone accept the Lord.  This is an indication that their faith is not real.  

They are trying to face this trouble in their own strength and have forgotten about God.  Trials shows us if our faith is real.  Trials show us where our faith needs to be strengthened. 

Paul realised his own weakness in 2 Corinthians 16:33 and so He turned to the Lord.  That’s what true faith does: It cries out to God!  Whatever trails you may go through, whether it is trials of illness, trials of family, trials at work, trials for the sake of your faith, turn to the Lord, that is what shows true faith.  

And what does it mean to turn to the Lord.  It means pray about it.  It means trust the Lord about it.  It means do not neglect or neglect your spiritual disciplines, including going to church.  It means that you accept that God is well capable to handle this situation and I rely on Him.  

It does not, however, mean that you simply sit back and do nothing.  It means you do what you need to do.  It means that you do what is right to do. But it means that your reliance in no longer on your own ability or strength, but on the Lord who can even raise the dead, Paul says.

 

2. Trials correct and build our faith

According to Luke 17:5 the apostles said to the Lord “Increase our faith”. If there is one thing that increases our faith, it is trials.  This is why the Lord’s brother says in 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.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  

One of the reasons why God brings trials into our lives is to increase our faith in Him.  It is to make us rely on Him more.  By trials the Lord calls us back to Him where we will meet with his grace, mercy and strength.  

Trials may cause anxiety and worry in our hearts, but the answer to these are in trusting the Lord.  If we trust the Lord, He will carry us through our trials and all our worry and anxiety will subside.  I am not saying that the tears will necessarily disappear, they may remain, but anxiety will be replaced by trust. 

The Christian life is lived in the real world with real troubles.  Real fears, real issues, real problems.  But as real as these issues are, so real is our God and so real is also His strength and ability to help us overcome these.  I have found that trials are the very thing that not only questions my faith, but it is also the very thing that strengthens my faith.  It helps me consider my ways, to see if there is any wicked ways in me from which I must repent, so it corrects me, it leads me to the right path.  It also makes me aware that in my own strength I am to weak to go through this.  It therefore turns me to God, to rely on Him, to trust Him, to hold on to Him, it builds up my faith in ways that a trial-less life wasn’t able to do, knowing that the Lord is able to do far more than your trail demands and He will never forsake His children. 

Even this was placed in your path not to weaken your faith or to harm you, but to strengthen your faith by helping you grow and rely on Him all the more.  Trials are ultimately intended to give us hope, Paul says in Romans 5:3-4.  Listen to how he puts it: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So suffering produces in the believer the ability to endure through it.  This produces a more godly character in us, and through it all, it gives us hope that our God is true, our faith in Him is true, and therefore we have hope.  Hope not only to go through this trial, but hope that we will receive eternal life, because God is faithful to His children.  In 2 Corinthians 4:17 Paul says “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”  This is true of the believer, and yes, this relates to suffering for the faith in particular.  But the reason why the end of the believer is “an eternal weight in glory beyond all comparison”, is exactly because through the trial he endures in his faith, grows in His Christlikeness and thus have hope of eternal life.

 

3. Trials leads us to glorify God

Listen to how 1 Peter 4:16 puts it: “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”  Let me remind you of what a number of verses that we have already looked at said: 

·   1 Peter 1:6 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials”.

·   James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”.

·   Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.” 

Imagine that instead of anxiety and worry, our trials will lead us to thank the Lord that He has given us this opportunity, not only to see if our faith is real, but correct our sinful ways and strengthen our faith.  Imagine if instead of being overwhelmed by our circumstances, we stand overwhelmed at the sovereignty of God who even through this, and by this, will work together all things for our good.  

Trials are intended, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:9 “to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”  It is intended to make us realise that God is far greater than we have imagined and can be trusted.  The only acceptable response to this has to be to glorify Him who is indeed worthy of all praise, even in times of trial.

 

As a Christian there may come times where you are faced with trials.  Whether they are big trials or small trials, God is well able to carry you through them and even use them to grow your faith.  He has a purpose for these, and the purpose He has for this, is the purpose He has for everything that happens, it is for His glory.  

Through this we find a reason to rejoice in the Lord, in the midst of whatever you are facing, and bring glory to His worthy Name.

 

Amen