Overcoming Trials and Tribulations

The word Trial can have several meanings; it can refer to a judgment during a criminal trial or during a finding of fact or it can mean sufferings and afflictions. In either case it is a general term that refers to a process of some sort of conflict or some event that carries difficulties. 

The closest word that we can find in the Hebrew to closely resemble the idea of going through a trial is the word amad OT 5975 which means literally to stand  or in some contexts it means to endure, to stand fast, to stand firm, to stand still.

Interestingly enough, the word Tribulation is only found one time in the Scriptures and it comes to us through the Greek word thlipsis (NT:2347) which means pressure, also, anguish, burdened, persecution, trouble.

Although these two words are not generally found in scripture the way that we commonly use them, the fact is that we can apply them to our study because, the idea of going through trials and tribulations does match up with many words that contain the same ideas and which are found in the scriptures. Words such as, trouble, which is found 131 times in the OT and it is word # 5916, akar (aw-kar'); a primitive root; properly, to roil water; figuratively, to disturb or affict.

Or the words conflict and or affliction, which are word #205 in the OT and it is the word aven which means [to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness]

There are many other words of course which gives us the idea that in our lives we will encounter difficulties, trials, tribulations ect. I am sure that you get the idea.

In essence one of the things that we must recognize then is that trials and tribulations are just a normal part of our lives. By simply being born we will endure trials and tribulations, but these afflictions that we must endure are not designed to destroy us or to separate us from our Father Yahweh, on the contrary they are established so that we can grasp on to his love and so that we can walk by his ways and ultimately they are established so that we can have faith and trust in him and especially in this era, in Messiah as well.

Job 5:6-7 6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. 7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

Notice what Yahshua says:

John 16:33 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

So having bumps along the road of life is normal and to be expected but the question and the trick is to know when to turn around or to turn back when you come to a certain bump, to know when to go around the bump and to know when you must go through the bump, despite of the consequences.

The gist of all of this of course is that we must endure to the end.

1 Cor 4:12-13 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

2 Tim 2:8-13 8 Remember Yahshua Mashiach, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But Elohim's word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Mashiach Yahshua, with eternal glory. 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Understanding that there is a purpose for our suffering and that there is a light in the end of the tunnel is very important for to continue to praise our Father and understand that endurance does not separate us from him, it brings us closer to him.

2 Cor 1:8-11 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on Elohim, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

In 1 Chron we are told that Yahweh’s love endures forever if we want to run a parallel of sorts we can safely say that we are the testament to his love we also endure forever:  

1 Chron 16:34  34 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; his love endures forever.

So understanding that life has trials and tribulations that we must endure is important for us to encourage us to hold firm and to stay faithful. However we must also recognize that sometimes we place ourselves under trials and tribulations simply because of our actions or because of our refusals to comply with Yahweh’s principles.

It seems than that there are times in our lives that our own ignorance or selfish desires place us under trials and tribulations that we would not otherwise be subjected to. In those instances we place ourselves outside of the circle of faith and/or relationship with Yahweh and thus the pain and suffering is outside of the control of our Heavenly Father. In our words are suffering becomes in vain because it seems as if we become our own Elohim. We make up our own rules, we follow our own principles, we make our own laws and thereby we defy the Father because we do not give him the respect nor the attention that he deserves. That sort of defying the father will not be ignored in current era, in other words because of the gift of Messiah, that type of downright ignorance our Father will not forgive:

Acts 17:29-31 29 "Therefore since we are Elohim's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past Elohim overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

Listen to what Peter tells us in one of his epistles:

1 Peter 1:14-16 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 

So another facet in understanding and overcoming trials and tribulations is examining ourselves intently so that we are not in essence creating our own chaos because of our own selfish desires. Are we being obedient to his word as we understand it or are we doing things that we ought not to be doing simply because we want to satisfy the flesh?

Let us examine some of Yahshua’s words and see how we can apply them to our discussion:

Luke 12:54-59 54 He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? 57 "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

From reading this I get the idea that Yahshua is saying that we should be able to see or feel some sort of outcome based on what we see and/or experience.

So let’s say that I am going on this highway at 65 miles an hour and I see a sign that says bridge out, three miles ahead. What will happen to me if I continue to drive at 65 miles an hour for the next three miles? Exactly, I will probably be dead or I will encounter some type of tragedy or grave accident. But if I immediately stop and turn around, than you can be assured that at least in this instance I will not encounter a damaged bridge.

That is the same thing with our lives, if we are going or doing something that we ought not to be doing, than the outcome is pretty much already written for us. That is why we must change our mindset and/or the actions that we are currently doing. If we are walking in orderly lives and walking in obedience to Torah, than we will still encounter trials and tribulations, but Yahweh will help us through them:

Acts 5:25-6:1  25 Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey Elohim rather than men! 30 The Elohim of our fathers raised Yahshua from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 Elohim exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom Elohim has given to those who obey him." 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from Elohim, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against Elohim." 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Yahshua, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Yahshua is the Mashiach. 

So here we see that the apostles even though they had been beaten, they still rejoiced before Yahweh. So they encountered a trial and tribulation and they successfully overcame it. Why? Because Yahweh was with them and they knew it. We will not have the same outcome when we do the opposite of what we see in this story. In fact the outcome will be much worse because in many cases we will be punished by men, by the actions of our refusal to obey Yahweh and ultimately by the judgment that is to come.

1 John 5:1-5 5:1 Everyone who believes that Yahshua is the Mashiach {and} is born of Elohim, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of Elohim: by loving Elohim and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for Elohim: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of Elohim overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Yahshua is the Son of Elohim.

Rev 2:26-27 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- 27'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'- [Rev 2:7]…I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of Elohim.  [Rev 2:11]….{he} will not be hurt at all by the second death. [Rev 2:17]…I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. [Rev 3:5-6]….{he will} be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. [Rev 3:12-13]…I will make a pillar in the temple of my Elohim. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my Elohim and the name of the city of my Elohim, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my Elohim; and I will also write on him my new name. [Rev 3:21-22] I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. [Rev 21:7-8] …{he} will inherit all this, and I will be his Elohim and he will be my son. 8 But {to those who do not overcome} the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Halleluyah!