Hello, friend. Welcome back to Authorized Sword Ministries.

We're so glad you're here again.

Where We've Been

In this course, we've looked at three ways God helps His children grow. In Lesson One, we learned to desire the milk of the Word. In Lesson Two, we learned to study the Bible and to be doers of it. In Lesson Three, we learned that we grow best together, in a church family.

Today is Lesson Four, the last lesson in this course. It's called "Growing Through Trials." Because some of the deepest growth in a Christian's life happens in the hardest seasons.

Our Key Verse

Here is our key verse. James 1:2-4.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." — James 1:2-4 (KJV)

In the King James Bible, "divers temptations" here means many different kinds of trials. Hard times of every sort.

Now, James isn't saying trials feel good. They don't. He's saying we can count them as joy, because of what God is doing through them. The trying of our faith "worketh patience." It builds endurance. And God uses it to make us "perfect and entire," which means mature and complete.

Trials Will Come

First, let's be honest. Being a Christian doesn't mean life will be easy. Notice James says "when," not "if." Jesus never promised His followers a life without trouble. But He did promise He would be with them.

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." — Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)

Look at that. "When thou passest through." Not around. Through. And God says, "I will be with thee."

Gold in the Fire

Why does God allow His children to go through fire? Peter gives us a picture:

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" — 1 Peter 1:6-7 (KJV)

A goldsmith puts gold in the fire, not to destroy it, but to burn away what doesn't belong. When it comes out, it's pure. Job knew this, even in the middle of losing almost everything:

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." — Job 23:10 (KJV)

God Is Working for Your Good

Here's one of the most loved promises in the Bible:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (KJV)

It doesn't say all things are good. Some things are very hard. But God works all things together for good for His children.

Think of Joseph in the book of Genesis. His own brothers sold him into slavery. He was falsely accused and thrown into prison. But God raised him up to save many lives. Years later, Joseph told his brothers:

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." — Genesis 50:20 (KJV)

Keep Your Eyes on What Lasts

Paul suffered more than most of us ever will. And yet listen to how he talked about it:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV)

Compared with eternity, even our longest trial is "but for a moment." The pain is real. But it isn't forever. And the glory is.

What to Do in the Fire

So what do we do when trials come? Here are a few simple steps.

First, take it to the Lord. Don't carry it alone.

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." — 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Second, hold on to His promise. He will not walk away from you.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Third, stay in the Word and stay with God's people. Everything we learned in this course matters most in hard times. Don't pull away from the Bible or from your church family when you're hurting. That's when you need them most.

And fourth, ask, "Lord, what are You teaching me?" instead of only, "Why me?"

Are You His Child?

Friend, these promises are for the children of God. If you've never trusted Jesus Christ, the greatest need in your life isn't to get out of your trouble. It's to be made right with God. Christ died for your sins and rose again. Turn from your sin and trust Him today, and you will never walk through the fire alone again.

Where to Go from Here

This is the end of Growing in Grace. But growing never ends. Peter closed his last letter with these words:

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." — 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)

So keep reading. Keep studying and doing. Keep going to church. And keep trusting the Lord through every trial. For your next step, our course Learning How to Pray will help you grow in talking with your heavenly Father.

A Prayer

Before we go, let's pray together.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this friend who is listening right now.

Thank You that You are with us when we pass through the waters and walk through the fire.

When trials come, help us to cast our care on You, and to trust that You are working all things together for good.

Make us more like Jesus, and help us to keep growing in grace every day.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Thank you for walking through this course with us.

From all of us at Authorized Sword Ministries, God bless you.