"Back in the early 1990's just north of Tucson, outside the tiny town of Oracle, a giant greenhouse went up, covering over three acres. For two years, scientists sequestered themselves in this artificial environment called Biosphere 2. Inside their self-sustaining community, the Biospherians created a number of minienvironments, including a desert, rain forest, and savannah. Nearly every weather condition could be simulated except one - wind.

Over time, the effects of this windless environment became apparent. Within two years, a number of small trees bent over and even snapped. Without the stress of wind to strengthen the wood, the trunks grew weak and could not hold up their own weight."

1 Peter 1:7 NASB “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We "have all we want" is a terrible saying when "all" does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St. Augustine says, "God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full - there's nowhere for Him to put it." Or as a friend of mine said, "We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it's there for emergencies but he hopes he'll never have to use it." Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as He leaves us any other resort it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call "our own life" remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make "our own life" less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible sources of false happiness?

James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

For more information on The Problem of Pain go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684823837/fm082-20

Before her fateful trip, Kathy told John, "I'm going to run to the store to pick up a few things." A little while later, a friend called to tell John she saw a terrible accident on the road and Kathy was involved. As a result of the accident, Kathy is totally blind and paralyzed on her left side. Unable to care for herself, she is in a nursing home where cancer is slowly claiming her life.

John resigned the church where he was pastoring and took a job as the editor of a denominational newspaper so he could be close to his wife. He's successfully raised his two daughters into adulthood and continues to nurture his wife. He isn't bitter about the way things have turned out, he said: "I'm convinced that the greatest blessings in life come from the greatest trials. I wouldn't have experienced God's amazing provision had I not had such a great need."

1 Peter 1:7 NASB "that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; "

In his book, “Only the Holiest,” Walter Price talks about the birth of his fifth child, which was the first time his wife had to have a Cesarean section. He writes, “We entered the sterile atmosphere of the operating room with its air of controlled chaos. Everything was prepared. Then, with beautiful precision the surgeon placed the point of the scalpel on my wife's abdomen and pierced her flesh in a long, straight line.

After cutting the various layers underneath her outer skin, he reached into her womb and lifted out this beautiful, healthy baby girl. Immediately, I noticed a difference. Her head was round, not cone shaped. Also, the nurses took her away quickly to an adjoining room.

I walked over to the door between the two rooms and watched as a team of nurses began to work with my newborn child. They began to push on her chest. They took one of those little bubble-shaped devices and diligently suctioned out her mouth.

I turned to a nurse who was standing next to me and asked, ‘Is there anything wrong? They seem to be doing that more than normal.’

‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘There's nothing wrong,’ she continued. ‘When a baby is delivered through the birth canal, the pressure of passing through that constricted area helps to force the crud [my word] out of its lungs. But, with a C-section, we have to do it for the child.’”

That’s what trials do for us—they push the “crud” out of our lives. At the moment we are going through it, we may not appreciate what the process is doing for us, but in the end, the trial makes us stronger and more able to live a viable Christian life.

1 Peter 1:7 (NASB) “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

For more information on “The Only Holiest” go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974183202/fm082-20

Our tendency, when faced with difficult situations is to ask God to take it away. It is different with Christians who are under persecution, they tend to ask for the strength to go through the trial.

Christians in Malaysia consider themselves blessed because all they have to endure is restrictions on their Christian activities, while in Indonesia the persecutors are killing Christians. In Indonesia, the Christians consider themselves blessed because they can still publish the gospel, unlike the believers in Malaysia even though they face martyrdom for their Christian activities.

Some Christians have important things to pray about. Things like, how to continue their Christian activities or publish the Scripture without it being hazardous to their health, and the courage to do it when it is. Or things like how to survive a night with the lions.

The morning after the King threw Daniel into the Lions' Den he ran to it to see if Daniel survived: "And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" Daniel 6:20 [KJV]

He had. God shut the mouth of the lions, he answered his prayer, but Daniel still had to spend a night sleeping with deadly beasts. What does God say when people pray? Sometimes He says, "You have to go to the Lions' Den, but I'll be with you when you do."

When he was 14-years old, Leonid Stadnik had brain surgery. He is experiencing the effects of that day at age 33. Stadnik's life continues to get harder with each passing day, because he is still growing. Doctors believe the operation somehow stimulated Stadnik's pituitary gland, and they don’t know how to turn it off.

Stadnik may already be the world's tallest living human. He is 8 feet 4 inches tall, already 7 inches taller than a Tunisian man listed as the tallest living man in the Guinness Book of World records. Stadnik finds little comfort in the fact that he is closing in on the 8 foot 11 inch height of Robert Wadlow, who is believed to be the tallest human in history.

Stadnik's height keeps him confined to a tiny village 130 miles west of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. He says, "Taking a public bus for me is the same as getting into a car's trunk for a normal person.” Stadnik once worked as a veterinarian, but was forced to quit when his feet were frostbitten because he couldn't afford shoes to fit his 17 inch feet. Stadnik's height causes him to crouch through the small one story house he shares with his mother. His height and weight combined cause him constant pain in his knees.

Stadnik actually wishes he would stop growing. He is constantly outgrowing his clothes. He says, "My two-year-old suit's sleeves and pants are now 30 centimeters, (12 inches) shorter than I need." Stadnik adds, "My height is God's punishment. My life has no sense."

—Associated Press, World's tallest Man Up to 8'4" and Still Growing, Anna Melnichuk, April 18, 2004. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

When I get past the novelty of this story, I am saddened by the trials Stadnik’s height is causing him, but even more, I am saddened that he feels his plight in life is God’s punishment. Not all suffering comes from God’s hand, and not all of it is punishment. But when it comes our way, our best response is to learn from it and to allow it to make us a stronger person.

1 Peter 4:12 NASB “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”

Press Secretary Tony Snow, the former FOX news host, choked up when asked about the yellow cancer awareness bracelet he wears.

"I had cancer last year. Just having gone through this last year was the best thing that ever happened to me." Snow said. "A lot of people who have had cancer will tell you the same thing. In a lot of ways, it really is the best thing that ever happens to you," he continued. "You realize every day is a blessing and imparts a kind of joy to your life you wouldn't get otherwise."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=1971489&page=1 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

James 1:2-4 (HCSB) "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

I always knew that eating deep-fried twinkies would make me fat, but I had absolutely no idea that running the air conditioner could do the same. A new study shows that air conditioners keep our bodies in the "the thermo neutral zone," a temperature range that precludes our bodies from having to adjust to changing conditions. When we are out of the thermo neutral zone, our bodies burn energy to self regulate, but when we're in the zone, it doesn't.

—http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2120381&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

While I'm not suggesting that we turn off the air conditioning this morning, I do want to point out that adversity builds character and our struggles make us stronger.

1 Peter 1:7 (HCSB) "so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

When the coach of the Indianapolis Colts returned to work with his team just two days after burying his oldest son James, many people were surprised. After the team's victory over Arizona in the final regular season game, Dungy stepped off the podium following his post-game press conference and answered reporters’ questions saying,

"There's a story in the Bible. King David loses a son. When the son dies, King David was asked how he could go on. He said, 'My son is in heaven.'"

"But it's not like I don't have any hope. I have to move forward. I have who I am and do what I do. "He continued," I have proclaimed that I'm a Christian. If I show my best foot forward only when times are going well, that does not say a lot. I've got to honor the Lord when things aren't going well." He added, "The Lord gave me opportunity to show what my faith is all about. I'll continue to urge people to never TRUST

A new Gallup poll suggests American tend to trust one another more than the federal government, local officials, or the news media. Survey respondents were asked to evaluate how well various groups fared when, “making judgments under our democratic system about issues facing our country,” and 78 per cent of those polled choose their friends family and neighbors, saying they trusted the “American people” the most.

Survey results said the next highest level of trust was placed in the Judicial Branch of government. The Branch headed by the Supreme Court received the vote of 75 percent of respondents. The President and the executive Branch were next at 72 percent, with lawmakers receiving 57 percent, other public officials 60, and the broadcast media 54 percent.

Matthew Felling of the Center for Media and Public Affairs says the study demonstrates Americans have faith in each other. Those affections start to fade when politics and the newsrooms enter the picture. The survey is a conundrum because people trust politicians more than the media, which generally informs them about those politicians. Felling adds “There’s an esteem for Everyman here—that the people you walk by on Main Street are all good at heart. It’s due, in part, to our instincts to give more credit to those who are similar to us.”

—http://asp.washtimes.com, Public puts its trust most in ‘Everyman,’ September 24, 2002, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Perhaps Felling is right, we tend to trust people like us, or perhaps our lack of trust in the media and public officials is well founded, we’ve been burned in the past and are hesitant to give them our unbridled trust today.

Do you find that you are more likely to trust people who have a track record of being trustworthy? I know I do. Now let’s get a bit personal here—has God ever broken His word to you? Have you found Him trustworthy? If you answer those questions with a “yes” then trust God. Stop doubting. Start trusting.

Proverbs 3:5 NIV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

In the movie, “August Rush,” Evan Taylor has been separated from his parents and was placed in an adoption agency. He had bounced around from home to home and believed that his parents were searching for him. When he ran away he was found by a ruthless cruel street man – Maxwell ‘Wizard’ Wallace played by Robin Williams. Life was hard for Evan. Maxwell had discovered his musical talent and promised that he would help Evan – but instead of helping he used Evan for his own purposes. In the midst of the trouble and pain Evan met his father. At this stage neither of them recognized each other. In the scene they sit down and switch guitars and then play a beautiful piece of music. When we walk with God even in the times of trials we can play beautiful music.

--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnoeD9Xb6Xw&feature=related Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Mark Plaza

James 1:2 (NAU) “Count it all joy, my brethren, when we encounter various trials.”

For those who saw replays of the pitch, it is unforgettable. Pitching for the Giants and leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Dave Dravecky delivered his 69th pitch of the night. It was the last pitch he would ever make with that left arm. The bone broke in mid pitch and he fell to the ground in pain. The arm, weakened by cancer and the accompanying surgery and radiation, just could not hold up to the rigors of a major league pitch.

Eventually the left-handed pitcher had his left arm amputated to stop the cancer and save his life. Such a rotten ending would put many people in despair. However, Dave and his wife Jan turned the lemon into lemonade.

They began a ministry, outreachofhope.org, to minister to people who look at the faith of the Draveckys and search for ways to have a meaningful faith support them through their own trials.

On his website, he states that the mission of Dave Dravecky's Outreach of Hope is to serve suffering people, especially those with cancer and amputation, by offering resources for encouragement, comfort, and hope through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Good can come out of horrible life circumstances.

--Sports Illustrated, July 13, 2009. P. 108.Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Genesis 50:20 (NASB77) "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Freddie Jackson, a heavy equipment operator for the Ocala Florida Public Works Sanitation Department had been praying for some extra money to take his wife on a vacation. When he found a wallet containing $500 in the back of his garbage truck, Jackson knew he had to do the right thing. Immediately he told his supervisor, who helped locate the owner.

The wallet belonged to Travis Davis who thought he had lost the wallet at the gym. Davis was on the way to make a car payment when he got the call from Jackson’s supervisor, who dropped off the wallet. Davis says he was very grateful and thankful that there are still honest people in the world. Jackson received praise from his co-workers for the good deed, and insisted the Lord blessed him to find the wallet and turn it in. He said, “I really was shocked, because I was really praying for a few more extra dollars, but this wasn’t what I was looking for. Maybe the Lord was testing my faith.”

-- Sanitation Worker Finds $500 In Trash, Returns It; http://www.wesh.com/news/22883013/detail.html; March 15, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 8:8 (CEV) “I am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown.”

In her book, ‘It’s No Secret, Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know’ Rachel Olsen offers hope to those who are experiencing the dark times in life. Olsen writes,”We may not be able to view the shore beyond the twenty-foot waves, but God hones in on our precise location on that deep, dark lake. He holds the power to stop the storm, as well as to use the storm to stir up glorious things. We can mine great things from the dark times in our lives, things that may not be discovered any other way. Things like irrepressible hope, unsurpassable peace, inexplicable joy, and unfailing comfort. Divine endurance and amazing grace. In Isaiah, God calls these secret riches. How will we discover these treasures lying hidden in the darkness of our trials if we’re always running for the light, trying desperately to avoid any testing, suffering, or pain?”

--Olsen, Rachel, It’s No secret, revealing Divine Truths every woman should know, pg120-121. 2010.

Isaiah 45:3 (GW) “I will give you treasures from dark places and hidden stockpiles. Then you will know that I, the LORD God of Israel, have called you by name.”

A high school football team in California was forced to forfeit their game recently because they no longer had enough player to field a team. The Capistrano Valley Christian school team was leading the team from Hope Center by a score of 8 to 6. Two players were injured on one play, and those injuries changed the course of the game. The two teams compete in an 8 man football division which allows smaller schools to compete with eight players rather than the usual 11. The arrangement creates some unique offensive situations, and enables schools with unique student populations to field a team. Unfortunately, the arrangement also leaves the teams vulnerable to injuries.

Capistrano Valley coach Chris Fore said two players went down on one play, and they feared the boys had broken their legs. He said the loss left them with only 9 team members, two of which were 14 year old freshmen that he could not play against bigger 17 and 18 year olds. Fore said he had no choice but to wave the white flag and end the game. To help the team, they rescheduled the next few games to get more players healthy. Fore said despite the setback, he was optimistic the team would continue to compete. He said,” We really have a shot to (win the district championship) if we can keep our 11 kids healthy.” He added,”My kids keep saying that they will make a movie about this team after we win the league championship because of the adversity we have been going through.”

--Injuries force California football team to forfeit while leading, http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Injuries-force-California-football-team-to-forfe?urn=highschool-275447 ; October 9, 2010, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

John 16:33 (KJV) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Sometimes in the midst of difficult times, we do well to stop and count our blessings. Rory Mcllroy was sailing along in the lead of the 2011 Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters is one of, if not the most prestigious golf tournament in the world. Only 21 years old, Mcllroy had lead the tournament at the end of each day. He entered the last nine holes still in the lead. He only had nine holes to play to win the coveted green jacket.

Mcllroy sprung a leak. He played like a regular duffer and not only lost the lead, but ended the tournament tied for 15th place with 4 others.

David Feherty, a golf journalist with CBS television and Golf Magazine had dinner with Mcllroy that evening. He reported the young man was in good shape mentally. Feherty said Mcllroy attitude was that if that’s the worst day of his life, he’s a whole lot luckier than most people.

--Sports Illustrated, April 18, 2011 p. 22 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

James 1:2 (NASB) “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”

On February 3, 2013, 111.3 million people watched Super Bowl XLVII played between San Francisco 49er’s and Baltimore Ravens. It was a game of two half’s. The first half the 49er’s played very poorly and were completely dominated by the Baltimore Ravens and were behind 20-7. Then something happened after the halftime show. The stadium went dark for over 30 minutes. When the second half finally began the darkness made one team stronger. Even though the Ravens returned the third quarter kickoff return for a 106-yard touchdown, the San Francisco 49er’s was a different team. By the end of the 3rd quarter the “darkness had made them stronger.” They had reduced the point deficit to just two points. Even though the Baltimore Ravens ultimately won the game the “darkness had made the 49ers stronger.” --Jim L. Wilson and John W. Wells Jr.

--http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/2/3/3948736/super-bowl-2013-power-outage-lights-blackout-superdome (accessed 2-28-13)

When we face trials, we have a choice to make and a question to ask, will this make me weaker? Or will this make me stronger?

James 1:2-4 (ESV) (2) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Trials

In his book, Shaped by God, Max Lucado writes ”When God sets out to shape us in His image, he often uses the heat and pressure of our daily lives to temper us and craft us into beautiful instruments He can use.”

James 1:2 (HCSB) “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,”

Much of the Pixar movie Inside Out? takes place inside Riley’s head, an 11-year-old girl, with five emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust embodied by characters who help Riley navigate her world. Early in the film, Joy admits that she doesn’t understand what Sadness is for or why it’s in Riley’s head.

In one the film’s greatest revelations, Joy looks back on one of Riley’s core memories that make Riley who she is. Joy sees when the girl missed a shot in an important hockey game and realizes that the sadness Riley felt afterwards elicited compassion from her parents and friends, making her feel closer to them and transforming this potentially awful memory into one imbued with deep meaning and significance for her. —Jim L. Wilson & Stephen Alexander

Like the movie, life is not always happy and joyful. But when we look back at our lives, we will remember the people who shared our lives with us—the good and the hard times.

My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Scientists constructed the “biosphere 2” to learn more about how our planet’s systems work. One of their discoveries was unexpected. They learned that trees grew quicker in the biosphere, but because there was no wind they would fall under their own weight before they could completely mature. Without the resistance of wind, their strength did not adequately develop. Just as wind makes a tree stronger, giving it the strength to hold up its own weight, trails strengthen believers, giving them the ability to bear up under the weight of life.

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

In You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times, Max Lucado writes, “Turbulent times will tempt you to forget God. Shortcuts will lure you. Sirens will call you. But don’t be foolish or naive. Do what pleases God. Nothing more, nothing less.”

and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.

In You'll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times, Max Lucado writes, “Don’t see your struggle as an interruption to life but as preparation for life. No one said the road would be easy or painless. But God will use this mess for something good.”

But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.