Whew-Trials have an Expiration Date!

Trials come in many different shapes and forms. Trials can be relationship trials, trials within the workplace, trying to conceive trials, trials from loss of a loved one or miscarriage. I heard a very good sermon on 'How to Handle the Trials that We Face' and one sentence in particular gave me that "Alleluia" feeling when I heard it- "All trials have an end date!"


Whew...have you ever thought that a particular trial would last forever? Some trials last longer than others, but the good news is that they ALL have a date in which they will come to expire and end.

"A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all." Psalms 34:19

I find comfort that even the very worst of times/trials God has a time planned for deliverance. God flooded the earth and that time was for 150 days, then the waters dried up and the land was good. There was famine during Joseph's time and the famine lasted for 7 years. In Revelation, God has set 7 years to be the time of the tribulation, 3 1/2 years of peace and 3 1/2 years of hell on earth. He has a plan and end date for the trials we face, too.

God has a plan for both Christians and non-Christians. For Christians, his plan is to develop you further. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

"to prepare God's people, . . .then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by cunning and craftiness of men . . ." Ephesians 4:12-15

For non-Christians God's plan is for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. All through-out scripture God's tries to get our attention in many different ways, sometimes that is through blessings or sometimes through trials that come upon us. God pleads with us by sending his prophets, teachers and finally he sends his greatest messenger of all, his son, Jesus.

Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?...For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

other sources for handling trials and discouragement
verses of reference

• Genesis 7:24
• Genesis 41: 53-54
• Revelation 10: 9-10
• John 3: 11-17