We are told we will have trouble:
John 16:33 NASB:
“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus tells us that in this world, we will have tribulation. The NIV version translates “tribulation” as “trouble”, but it is more than that. Tribulation is defined as: afflictions, severe trials, or deep suffering, often used to describe overwhelming distress or persecution. Tribulation doesn’t sound like a pleasant picture, and it is not. But Jesus also tells us the words he spoke, recorded in the Bible, are to give us peace. Even more in this verse, Jesus tells us that we are to have courage, for he has overcome the world.
Why do we have trials & tribulation?
I bet everyone thinks at different points in time that it would be great if we never had to deal with issues, but the Bible tells us different in:
James 1:2-3 NASB
“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
So we are supposed to want to go through rough patches just for endurance? But there is more about why we have to go through these issues.
1 Peter 1:6-7 NASB:
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
This ties into:
Isaiah 48:10 (NASB)
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”
To refine gold, it must be heated so it is liquid. Then by various processes, the impurities can be removed, and it is allowed to cool, now being pure. Both of these verse selections tell us that the trails, tribulations, and afflictions are all to refine us and test our quality.
1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us that our faith is even more precious than gold. It may not be comforting now, but I think we can understand doing something we don’t like at the time, since it will help us later.
Preparing for trouble:
Jesus warned us in that first verse (John 16:33) that we will have trouble. Knowing that something like that will happen helps us. We know hard times will come, so we can prepare for those hard times.
Ephesians 4:14 NASB
“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”
The Bible compares trouble to wind, blowing us about. So to not be blown around, we need to be firmly rooted, so while we may bend, we are not blown away. We can start with God’s word:
Psalm 119:105 NASB
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
God’s word (the Bible) is the light to our path through life, showing us the best way to go and live.
Colossians 3:16 NASB
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
We need to let the word of Jesus, that we read in the Bible, dwell within us. That will help us stay rooted, and build our faith, so we won’t blow away during trials.
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB
“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”
When we are built up and established we will be firmly rooted, and will not be blown away in times of trail.
Handling trouble when we are in it:
Knowing that trials, tribulations, and afflictions are to help refine our faith, and for our own good, is not a lot of comfort when we are in the middle of those trials, tribulations, and afflictions. But we have to remember that we are not left alone to deal with them.
Psalm 34:18-19 NASB:
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the Lord rescues him from them all.”
We have the promise that God is near to us when we are dealing with issues, and in the end, he will rescue us. We are also told how to get help in these times:
Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB:
“Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
We need to keep meeting together with other believers, our church family. We need to make sure we encourage each other and can be encouraged by others.
James 5:16 NASB:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.”
We need to tell others what we are going through, so they can pray for us and give us specific encouragement.
Our Reward:
These trials that refine us will not be left unrewarded:
Matthew 5:10-12 NASB
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Romans 8:18 NASB:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
James 1:12 NASB
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB
“But just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
© Vivian P. Kirkpatrick, 2026
Worship Together:
The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock
My Feet are on the Rock - I am They
Like a Tree - Graham Kendrick
Craft:
Supplies: Play dough, mat
Prompt your child(ren) to create something strong and unbreakable. Their goal is to make something that will stand firm against storms. While they are building you can ask:
What does a building need to not fall down?
Do you think play dough is the strongest material in the world?
After the house is built, it’s time for a storm to come. Do you think you could be a big storm trying to knock down your house? (kids knock down house)
Oh no, the house didn’t stand firm! This is because the material is soft and flexible. No matter how hard we try to build our own houses with play dough, they will never be strong enough to stand alone. The play dough hasn’t been refined or hardened to stand firm. The same is true with our faith. Alone, we can not make our faith stand. It will be flimsy and squishable. Instead, we need to rely on God to strengthen our faith.
How does God help you stand firm?