INTRODUCTION
Faith is invisible, but you must believe to have it (Hebrews 11:1). A trial is a stage used to test the believer's faithfulness and build patience. Psalm 23 speaks of walking through the valley of the shadow of death, not of remaining there. Joseph, for example, before arriving at Pharaoh's palace, went through the test of faithfulness at Potiphar's house (Genesis 39:7-23). The apostle James asks us to count it all joy when we meet various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness, and that steadfastness, when it has fully accomplished its work, makes us perfect and complete (James 1:2-4). Trials are sometimes the result of disobedience, as was the case with the people of Israel in the wilderness (Judges 2), or they can be a moment to take time in silence to take stock of one's relationship with God (Revelation 2:4-5). This was, for example, the case of Jesus Christ in the wilderness.
WHY DO TRIALS PERSIST?
Trials sometimes persist because we need to be better prepared to move on to the next stage. Coming out of a trial before its time can let pride, boasting, and other fruits of the flesh take over (Galatians 5:19-21). They can also persist when the origin of the trial is unknown — for example, generational iniquities. It is important to take a moment of prayer and ask for the support of brothers and sisters in Christ; when it is hard to hear God personally, the Lord can reveal Himself to them more quickly during their intercession.
ATTITUDES IN THE FACE OF TRIALS
#1. Avoid doubting and complaining — remain firm in the Lord and believe. Complaining kindled God's anger against Aaron and Miriam (Numbers 12), Moses' brother and sister, as well as the company of Abiram and Dathan (Numbers 16).
#2. Obedience in trials brings solutions, sometimes not from the sources we expect but from people commissioned by the Lord. It is therefore important to be surrounded by good people, to have people who support us spiritually: the importance of spiritual covering. The apostle Paul, in Timothy's life, helped him avoid many trials simply by obeying the instructions and recommendations he received (see the Epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy).
#3. Pray without ceasing, and above all do not grow weary (1 Thessalonians 5:17), like Queen Esther, who was able to save her people through prayer (Esther 4-5).
To conclude, it is important to always examine your heart and ask the Lord what lesson there is to learn in trials. The people of Israel, for example, had to appreciate the manna of the desert first before they could enjoy the milk and honey of Canaan, the promised land.
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