When God Changes Us Through the Trial: The Work He Does Inside Our Hearts
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When I was growing up, I had freckles. Yes, as a fair-skinned, auburn-haired girl, my skin showed more freckles every year. My cousin always had a beautiful tan after being outside in the sun, and I envied her. The only thing I seemed to get from the outdoors was a sunburn. I had more than a few of those!
Something interesting I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten beyond those “tanning” years is that my skin has lightened again, and the freckles seem to show less and less. I’m not sure why that is, except that our skin changes over time. But our appearance isn’t the only thing that changes as the years pass.
So when we walk through suffering, we naturally ask, Why is this happening to me? As time passes, we might also ask ourselves another question: What has God been doing in me?
Trials Reveal What Is Already in Our Hearts
Most of us don’t really know ourselves very well until we start to experience difficulties. Those trials can reveal our fears, impatience, dependence, misplaced trust, or pride. God does not condemn us for our issues, but He loves us through those trials to help us improve ourselves. That gives us strength for future suffering.
A few years ago, I found myself facing numerous problems, and I cried out to God about how unfair it was that I had so much to deal with. I suffered for a long time as I waited for Him to remove the pain from my life and from the life of loved ones.
What He was teaching me through those difficult years was that I had to give my troubles to Him and loosen my control (or what I thought I had control over). Honestly, I knew I couldn’t control what happened, but sometimes I think I can change this or that to improve life for myself and others. What God wanted from me was trust and surrender. I needed to surrender any control I was trying to take in the situations and put my trust in Him to do His best (which He always does).
In James 1:2–4, we read, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
God Teaches Us to Depend on Him
We have all probably gone through a time of suffering where we came to the realization that we didn’t have the strength to carry everything ourselves. There are those times where we are literally brought to our knees because we are overwhelmed with our trials. It’s just too much!
After dealing with a number of problems one year, I had received further bad news one day and was so upset I went into my backyard and pounded my fists on the siding of the house! I realize that wasn’t very mature, but I was so frustrated and upset, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I also cried out to God aloud (thankful that we lived in a rural area) as I asked him Why? Why was this all happening - and all at the same time? This was a season where my prayers were much less formal and more like a daily conversation, because I truly had nowhere else to turn. There was no one but God who could handle my suffering.
After I had calmed down later, I talked to my husband, but it took some time working through anger, frustration, and worry before I started to understand that I wouldn’t be alone through these trials. Instead of seeing dependence as weakness, I began to understand it as the place where faith could grow. It wasn’t learned overnight or even in a short time. It took at least another year for me to work through that time of pain, because I am not perfect, and pain affects me just like it does others. If you're a Christian and you're reading this while you're angry, confused, or struggling, there isn't something wrong with your faith. God is growing it.
philipmercier via Reddit / Kejimkujik National Park
Suffering Softens Our Hearts Toward Others
Pain has changed the kind of person I am becoming. One of the unexpected changes trials might bring is compassion. Once you have been through the valley that holds your trials, you realize how difficult that is. So it’s natural to want to help others who go through similar problems. Those who have walked through pain often notice suffering in others more quickly. This doesn’t mean they have all the answers.
When you've lived through particular trials, you may want to rush your advice to someone you notice is struggling. But don't. What that person needs at that time is not advice (unless they ask for it), but someone to sit by them in their pain. The loneliness that follows suffering can speak louder than thunder, but feeling the presence of someone who cares -- maybe by sitting by you, maybe by listening to you talk or cry -- is worth so much more.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” – Psalm 139:23-24
Faith Becomes Deeper Than Feelings
I have found that as God changes our hearts, He also strengthens our faith.
Over time, we learn to trust God’s character even when we don’t understand His plans. Having a mature faith isn’t believing because everything makes sense. It’s trusting because we have learned who God is.
God Is Still Shaping Us
As we live our lives, it shouldn’t be our goal just to simply survive hardship. Life is more than that. It’s allowing God to continue His work within us, because trials don’t have the last word. God does. He isn’t just changing our circumstances; He is changing us.
The God Who Is Still Shaping Me
Rather than asking, Would I want to go through this trial again? maybe the better question is, Would I want to go back to being the same person I was before God began working through it? I think the second question is the more important question, because it reminds me that God didn't waste my trial. He used it to begin a work He is still doing. He isn't just changing our circumstances; He is changing us.
Luke Ellis-Craven on Unsplash
Closing Hope
God may not take away every trial as quickly as we wish He would, but He never wastes them. While we often pray that things were different in our suffering, God is also faithfully changing our hearts, making us more like Him.
The work He is doing within you today may become one of the greatest stories of His faithfulness in the future.
Reflection Question
What pain or suffering changed you in some way? Did it change your circumstances, your heart, your faith, or how you see others?
Simple Activity
Think of one trial that has had a lasting change on your life. Write down several ways God has changed you through that suffering. Even if they are small changes, thank Him for each one.
Breath Prayer
Inhale: Lord, shape my heart.
Exhale: Make me more like You.
