God's Love In Trials

It has been said that those God loves most, He puts through the greatest trials. God does call us to believe in His special love for us when we face disappointments, and not to forget it. A believer who is convinced of God’s love will have the strength he needs to face the difficulties before him. In great trials we are called to believe in God’s special love for us. This is the greatest resource we have to carry us through the deep waters. Listen to what God says through the prophet Isaiah, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God” (Isaiah 43:1-2).

Consider these examples of a special love toward a child:

1. A mother with two daughters runs an embassy in a foreign land. The mother will be out of town but there are important dignitaries coming for a weekend. The mother asks one of the daughters to be in charge of their hospitality. She tells her daughter, “These guests are picky eaters, they are very critical, and seemingly unappreciative so be forewarned and be pleasant to them regardless.” Do you see the special love that the mother has for this daughter to entrust her with this assignment?

2. The other daughter is not happy unless she is sitting on a fluffy pillow and eating chocolate Bon-bons while smiling at her mother with her chocolate in her teeth.

3. The daughter who was assigned the inconsiderate guests should be convinced of the special “entrusting” love of her mother, and not feel she has been “rained on.”

Or consider a father who has twin sons:

1. The father has a large farm and is trying to keep the water tower from collapsing due to a structural fault. The father sees a bull that has gone mad rampaging in the field. The family dog who is old and ill runs out to the field and the father calls to his son go get the dog out of there or the dog will be killed. It could be dangerous for the son but the father trusts the son that he will figure out how to do it.

2. The other son wants to spend his time drinking soda pop and playing tidily winks. He says, “Daddy, look I got the purple button in the clowns nose. Isn’t that great!”

3. The first son should not feel he was mistreated, but that he was honored with evidence of his father’s love though he was given a difficult task to do. He was stretched and challenged, but certainly not unloved.

So it is with God’s children. Abraham was certainly beloved by God with a special love, so was Daniel, David, and Paul. But this love was manifested in a life of more than ordinary trials. John on the Isle of Patmos was put through a great difficulty, but a special love was manifested to him when the risen Christ came and laid His right hand upon John (Revelation 1:17). In the hardest, roughest times we ought to never forget the special love of God that gave us this trial. God will with the trial give us all the help we need to serve Him in the midst of it. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). As a believer, when you face difficult trials remember the special love of God for you that would entrust you with the honor of serving Him in unpleasant circumstances.