Spiritual Growth through Trials

Many Christians try to struggle through life’s trials by themselves and exclude God from the picture right when they need Him the most. We go through life, carrying God around in a box taking Him out only when we want to have our own selfish desires fulfilled. 

During these trials we forget to lean on our Great Creator and we start worrying about little things that our Great Provider has already taken care of. Later we wonder where the heck God was during this whole thing.

Don’t get me wrong. He was definitely there trying to help you, not just to get you through this rough patch in life physically, but to help you grow spiritually. He wants you to grow with Him and to bring your relationship into a new kind of intimacy and greater understanding for His will.

Listen to me here. God wants you to grow into a greater spiritual maturity. All you have to do is allow Him to mold you. Many people ask…. “Well if God is so powerful then why did He let this happen to me in the first place?” God did not just let this happen. God “Allowed” it to happen for a specific purpose. He is molding you for a reason that will make you experienced for something that will later be needed in your spiritual journey.

God never said that this journey was going to be easy. You will face many challenges and you will be persecuted for your beliefs. You will fail and you will fall, but guess what. God will always be there to pick you back up, to comfort you, to cry your tears, and to set you back on to the path of righteousness once again.

There are many trials in life and there will be many more challenges to come. The question is will you let God in and allow Him to grow you spiritually. Will you be one of those so called “Christians”, who merely goes through the motions or will you learn from these trialing experiences, and cling to them so that you can later glorify Him.

I challenge you as you go through these trials to allow this spiritual growth. Whether it’s being bullied at school, going through a miscarriage, dealing with pressure at work, or having something completely destroy your home. Whatever you go through I challenge you to ask for this spiritual growth, for when you do…you get taken to a whole new level of spiritual intimacy. 

Trust me, you won’t regret it.

By Evan Hall

American Idol

You know what’s crazy? I didn’t really think about the word “Idol” in American Idol as being an idol!

I looked up the word “idol” online and guess what came up? American Idol, the official site. Don’t get me wrong, I watched the show a couple of weeks ago and had a good laugh, but why are so many people obsessed with becoming an idol and why do we spend so much time watching them instead of living our own lives?

So then I looked up the “definition of idol” online and the first thing listed was “Become a Clergyman” and the next was “Statues of Hindu Gods”. Below this were four definitions by dictionary.com:

1. An image or representation of anything.

2. An image of a divinity; a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing, made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god.

3. That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored.

4. A false notion or conception; a fallacy.


The first two definitions seem self-explanatory. We think of idols as statues made of wood or stone, but in reality an idol is anything natural that is given value or power. And the third seems to describe our obsession with American Idol. Now comes the conviction and yes I am…You are what? I am convicted and convinced that we need to put the brakes on some things in our lives which are considered idols.

Ok so here’s the Litmus Test and for this blog I am not talking about addictions such as caffeine or food. What I’m getting at is what we fill our minds with. Can you not watch your favorite show this week? Or any TV for a week.

Genesis 3:4-5 describes one of Satan’s first tricks, “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

Why does Satan tempt us? Temptation is Satan’s way of trying to get you to live his kind of life instead of the one God has for you. How can we resist? First we must pray. Next we must run. And last we must say no to what may look good on the outside but has no value on the inside. What value does American Idol have for me? None!!!

At this point I feel guilty…and I believe guilt is a warning sign that God has placed in us to let us know when we’ve done something wrong. Not condemnation! But I’m glad for the guilt so that I can start to head in the right direction.

I am currently curtailing most TV watching and increasing the time I spend developing my relationship with God. It is good!

One more thought! Who are we letting watch our children? And what are our children watching? An Idol?

By Collette Uhler

Prayer Solutions

Galatians 6:9-10 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

We have learned that praying God’s Word and claiming God’s promises is one of the most important solutions to any problem or obstacle that we face.

In Doing for God Instead of Being with God by Pete Scazzero says, “Being productive and getting things done are high priorities in our Western culture. Praying and enjoying God's presence for no other reason than to delight in him was a luxury, I was told, that we could take pleasure in once we got to heaven. For now, there was too much to be done. Are all these things wrong? No. But work for God that is not nourished by a deep interior life with God will eventually be contaminated by other things such as ego, power, approval of and from others, and buying into the wrong ideas of success and the mistaken belief that we can't fail. When we work for God because of these things, our experience of the gospel often falls off center. We become "human doings" not "human beings." Our experiential sense of worth and validation gradually shifts from God's unconditional love for us in Christ to our works and performance. The joy of Christ gradually disappears. Our activity for God can only properly flow from a life with God. We cannot give what we do not possess.”

He also says we live cannot live without limits. “The core spiritual issue here relates to our limits and our humanity. We are not God. We cannot serve every one in need. We are human. Jesus modeled this for us as a human being—fully God yet fully human. He did not heal every sick person in Palestine. He did not raise every dead person. He did not feed all the hungry beggars or set up job development centers for the poor of Jerusalem. He didn't do it, and we shouldn't feel we have to. But somehow we do. Why don't we take appropriate care of ourselves? Why are so many Christians, along with the rest of our culture, frantic, exhausted, overloaded, and hurried?

Few Christians make the connection between love of self and love of others. Sadly, many believe that taking care of themselves is a sin, a "psychologizing" of the gospel taken from our self-centered culture. I believed that myself for years. It is true we are called to consider others more important than ourselves (see Philippians 2:4). We are called to lay down our lives for others (see 1 John 3:16). But remember, you first need a "self" to lay down.”

Gary, Shelby and I were on the brink of collapse when we arrived at our first stop in Maine last September. As a solution God gave us rest and renewal. We stopped doing and started praying and listening for God’s voice. We let go of the busyness which, by the way, is hard to do! We started to search the Word which was like water for our thirsty souls.

In his sermon, entitled UNITY IN THE CHURCH Dr. Neil Chadwich says, The time has come for every member of the church to demonstrate a willingness to lay aside personal opinion and take up divine purpose, to submit individual wants to God's will...If we don't like the way things are going, do we think we can change it by sheer force of our will, or through social pressure, or by complaining? I don't think so. Why? Because when change is called for, in the church it always involves people - fallen people like us. What is need is a change of heart, and that only comes through prayer. "Prayer Changes People."

Are we willing to lay aside our plans? Our will for His Kingdom? We have learned that His plans are so much better than ours.

When we first arrived in Maine, last September, we had plans to reach out to a lost and dying church. We prayed and asked God to show us which one. What He showed us instead was that we were the lost and dying church!

In The Praying Church By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir he says, “When we desire to have a church that is after God’s purpose then prayer will be at the heart and core of it. The church cannot function without prayer. To have a church that does not pray is like having a telephone operator who refuses to use the phone or the computer programmer not using a computer in their occupations.”

Prayer is our communication with God. If we do not communicate with God, we don’t know whether what we are doing is for God and we don’t have a clue as to His plan. Prayer will enable us to be transformed to do the task that we cannot possibly do on our own or collectively as a church. We do not have the strength, knowledge, or ability to do squat for our Lord, but through prayer we can do all things that He is willing for us to do, beyond our imagination!

“We have a God who elected to choose us and selected us for a purpose, and one of the primary calls is for us to be in touch with our Creator and loving Lord. His power flowing through the universe is available for us to use if we choose to trust and obey, according to His will. Can you imagine the awesome nature of our Lord? Can you fathom the power that is at our hands? Can you see the potential you have and the plan that God has for you? Or are you to busy watching TV and no time to tap into the power at hand, the power that goes beyond any human means or adventure? We can do beyond what we are capable of as God is working through us. We are capable of much more than you can possibly imagine when we are people surrendered through prayer, through what He allows according to His purpose. So do you get it? Are you ready to have a church transformed to do what a church is actually for, what the foundation was poured for, and poured out for?” (The Praying Church By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir)

Good Questions! Are you ready to pray?

Obstacles to Unity

Here is a partial list. Feel free to add more!

1. Church Division and Hyperdenominationalism

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 discusses divisions in the church, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another ...Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 7For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

2. Doubt

What makes you think it will be any different this time? How can we come together in unity when we have so many differences of opinion?

The enemy loves to flood us with doubt when we try to be faithful in serving God. God may have shown us a mission that seems like "Mission Impossible" given our present resources. We have to remember that God is with us and will help us tackle God-sized missions.

The power of doubt is based on the lies involved. Satan will tell us many things in attempt to get us to doubt. He'll say things like: "God will not help you", "You didn't hear God correctly", "God has given up on you" or "God is punishing you".

In order to stave off an impending "storm of doubt," we must call to mind the truth about whatever lies we're being tempted to believe. Here are possible verses you could use to refute the above lies: Psalm 5:12, Philippians 4:19, John 10:27 and Proverbs 3:5-7 to name a few.

3. Satan does not want UNITY

In What Can Kill a Church a lesson by Gary Henry he says, four things can jeopardize any congregation of God’s people.

Persecution – Rev. 2:9-10, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 Peter 4:12. 

False teaching – Rev. 2:2, 6, 13-15, Acts 20:29-30. 

Worldliness – 1 John 2:15-17, Luke 8:14. 

Indifference - Rev 2:4, Prov. 18:9

And these are just some of the verses!

4. Selfish Ambition

In Philippians 2:3 it says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Human nature is to live to please ourselves. Our goals in life will reflect what we are living for and ultimately who is controlling our lives. If we are living to please ourselves instead of God, then we must take action to bring our will into submission to God's will. This should be part of our daily "dying to sin" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:31 and 1 Peter 2:24.

I would also include worry about others stealing your flock, your pulpit or the churches money. Of course you must be wise in your dealings and know that Satan is trying to steal from you but trust God. He can fill your churches and supply all your needs.

5. Doctrinal Differences

Ok, so here is where I jump off into the deep murky waters…I’m not going to argue, I believe Satan uses this more than almost anything else to deceive us. The only truth is the Word of God. At this point I’m sure some will lead out about deciphering the Bible, then there will be a theological discussion about who’s Bible is more correct, then about what Jesus’ hair color was and then…

There were more than 4 million sites on the web regarding doctrine, so what can I say? If you believe in one God and believe that his son Jesus died for your sins. As Emeril says, “Bam”. Put aside your differences, you serve the same God. John 3:16

Remember Satan wants to divide and conquer. Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

6. Inwardly Focused

A church can quickly become inwardly focused. In the Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer it says, “…all one has to do is look at the ministries and programs. What can be quickly discovered is that most churches build ministries to satisfy the already fed. These programs are good to keep the flock happy. Not necessarily a bad thing, but too much of a good thing ends up being a bad thing.”

Are we reaching a lost and dying world with hope and encouragement?

7. Idolatry

This subject is so important that God has asked me to write a whole blog focusing on the idolatry entitled “American Idol”. I really want to pick apart what we may not even see as idols in our lives. Look for it soon.

You may think this is absent from today’s Church, but it is very alive. Beloved programs, versions of the Bible, furniture, paintings on the wall and the placement of objects have caused more quarrels than I care to mention. We have taken these items to god-like levels in the church and forgotten the main thing. [from Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer]