When Trials Come

When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told
And there His faithfulness is told

Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to Wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good
Your love endures Your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in it’s shadow I shall run
Till You complete the work begun
Till You complete the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I’ll see the hope You called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I’ll praise your faithfulness of old
I’ll praise your faithfulness of old

Written by modern day hymn writers, Keith and Kristyn Getty, “When Trials Come” is based upon the theology found in James chapter one.  I prefer the language found in the King James Version of verse 2 which reads “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations..”  James doesn’t take long in his letter to “dive” into some deep theological waters.  He instructs fellow believers to not look upon trials and tribulations, or divers temptations, with a negative light.  But to count them as joy.  This song written by the Getty’s has that same kind of deep water truth.  “When trials come, don’t fear.”  Wait a minute.  Fear is natural, isn’t it?  But having no fear is super-natural.  Trials comes and depression sets in.  That is natural.  But what is supernatural is counting those trials and temptations as joy.  In my opinion, one can’t really read and comprehend the words of James, or sing and understand the words of this song, without the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.  We need the Holy Spirit to take the truths of Scripture (what we know in our heads) and apply it to our heart.  We can only live in a state of joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Three doctoral degrees in Biblical hermeneutics cannot give us the peace, comfort, and understanding that only comes by the Holy Spirit.  My prayer for you today if you are in the midst of a trial is that the Holy Spirit would visit you, comfort you, and be there during those trying times.

I did want to comment on a couple of the lyrics:

• “To fire a faith worth more than gold” – The initial picture that may have come to your mind is gold being refined by fire.  But I also want to share another possibly image here.  It is the image of a clay pot being fired in the kiln.  Picture a potter with a lump of clay.  He puts the clay on the potters wheel.  It appears to be spinning out of control.  He pounds the clay.  He punches it.  He shapes it with his hands, and with water, into a beautiful vessel.  But the potter is not done.  He then paints the vessel.  If you have ever seen a clay pot painted prior to being put in the kiln, it is not really that pretty.  The colors aren’t vibrant.  They are rather dull.  At this point in the process, one might even say to the potter “You might want to add a little more color to the pot.  It is not that pretty.”  The potter quietly responds, “Trust me.”  The clay pot is put into the kiln.  It has to be fired to be come useful.  It has to be fired to become beautiful.  A pot that has not been shaped and fired lacks usefulness and worth.  But a pot fashioned by the potter and fired in the kiln is valuable, and beautiful, and useful to the potter.  Jeremiah 18:1-6.

• “As treasures of the darkness grow” – This line is probably the most challenging to me from this song.  I ask myself “are there really treasures in the darkness?”  We are children of light.  Light has no fellowship with darkness.  Darkness has to flee when light comes.  Right? But I don’t think evil is the kind of darkness the Getty’s are talking about.  I think they are talking about those dark, lonely times.  Those times when you may feel that God has forgotten you.  Maybe it is a time of loss.  Maybe it is a time of suffering.  Maybe it is a time when you feel like no one understands.  Many great hymns were written during difficult times and in my opinion became “treasures of the darkness.”  The end of Psalm 34 also has some real “treasures” for those that are in the darkness too.  “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.  20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.  21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

The Bible is an amazing book.  It is the very word of God.  It is inspired, infallible, and inherent.  It is deep enough for an adult to spend an entire life learning from it, yet simple enough for a child to understand it’s words.  It was written thousand of years ago, yet still relevant today.  Even the simple choosing of words by the author, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, can pack a punch.  James 1:2 would have a completely different impact if James had said “Count it all joy brethren, if ye fall into divers temptations.”   The difference between “if” and “when” is tremendous.  “If” means it might not happen to me.  “If” means it might take me by surprise, but I don’t have to deal with it until I am surprised.  “If” means there’s a chance that if I do all the right things, I might be able to avoid trials and tribulations.  But “When” means it is going to happen.  “When” may not be certain as to an exact time and place, but “when” is certain when it comes to whether or not it will occur.  “Count it all joy when…” So how do we live differently in those “when” times?  By the power of the Holy Spirit. By trusting in His grace.  James says later on in his letter in chapter 4 verse 6  “But He giveth more grace.”  Praise be to God that we can get more grace during these “when” times.  He giveth….and giveth…..and giveth again.