Needs Graciously Met

God created mankind with many needs and many of these we recognise:  we know we need oxygen to breathe, food to eat, water to drink, to sleep, work and shelter.  We learn by experience we have a limited space of time between feeling like we need to use the toilet to really needing to go.  Over time we discover our list of needs grows to needing to avoid foods that make us sick and medication we are allergic to.  Being born again by faith in Jesus opens our eyes to a whole new world of needs, that of forgiveness, redemption, acceptance and love we never realised before.

Even as there are things we know we need, we have a need all Christians need to realise:  to experience and endure trials.  Many people and even believers are confused with how a God who is supposedly good allows us to go through painful circumstances which obviously seem bad.  The world is full of things which are not God's will due to sin, like death and destruction, yet from the example of Jesus dying on Calvary we learn God has the power to use and redeem them for good.

James 1:2-4 states, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  Knowledge of our loving God and His good intentions ought to impact our view of trials and turn a hopeless situation into one where we can experience the joy of the LORD.  If we would be honest, we would assert we have no desire or need for trials.  Our lack of faith and patience says otherwise!  Trials are God-ordained and designed tests to strengthen and condition our faith to endure for the long haul.

James 1:12 provides encouragement for all who are experiencing trials:  "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  When we feel a trial is killing us it actually works toward us receiving a crown of life by grace through faith in Jesus.  God's love never fails, and His strength is without end.  Having designed the trial, God supplies the way to endure as it is written in 1 Corinthians 10:13:  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

In trials do not lose heart because God is faithful to keep His promises.  A student who desires approval by a passing mark must first submit to sit the exam, and children of the living God realise He knows our needs and is able to supply them better than we ever could.  Our biggest need in life and for life is that of God, and in Him all our needs--even for trials--are graciously met.