What To Do When Facing Trials?

That panic that comes when you are facing a situation that completely puzzles you at first, the shock you are in is not so easy to deal with. I don’t know about you but I have always preferred an intense and short trial to a less intense but long one. I know I lack endurance that’s why God will work that part of my spiritual muscles. But do I like the idea of God having to work those spiritual muscles?

Oh…don’t ask…you know the answer: yes I want those muscles but if possible without the pain to achieving them. I want the impossible, I know…it is not going to happen.

That’s why I said to myself, well what did Jesus do? He said "Not my will but Yours". I pray to have the straight to say the same, "not my will Jesus but Yours".

What did Jesus do before being crucified? Was He happy?

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22: 39-46

The parallel from the gospel written by John says:

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing." Mathew 26:36-42

It is clear for me that if you have the privilege to know that you’ll go through a trial, you can’t act like nothing is going to happen. Jesus Himself prayed, and angel from Heaven came to strengthen Him. He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! It was not easy.
The trial you have to go through might just not be easy! But do what Jesus did: pray, believing with all your heart that God will send power your way to overcome what you have to go through.

Jesus told his disciples to pray so as not to fall into temptation; obviously prayer has the power to lead us out of temptation! Jesus repeatedly prayed, He went back for the third time to pray. To me it is quite obvious: when you have to face trials of your faith first of all you need to pray, secondly, you must pray and thirdly, you have to pray. This encompasses all you have to do: pray!

Once again, to know that you are about to face persecution for Christ is a privilege you should use to prepare yourself, to strengthen yourself and to be ready.

If you had known that thieves will come at 10 p.m. to break in your house, you would have alerted the police, isn’t that so?

Is it better to know that the thieves are coming or is it better not to know? I think it is very useful to know as you can prevent a huge loss. Therefore, you know that a trial is on your way? Be thankful and pray, pray, pray!

Jesus, help us pray Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit, send your power in our hearts, your love and wisdom to overcome all evil as You did! Amen