Don’t waste your trials!
- Leonie Fourie
- Feb 12
- 3 min read
Are you angry at God, or disappointed because He hasn’t answered your prayers? You asked Him for something, and He didn’t do what you asked or give you what you wanted?
Your husband cheated on you and left for a younger woman.
Your child was killed in a horrific accident.
Your mum is an alcoholic, and even though you have been praying for her to be free from addiction, she seems to be drinking even more.
You have been ill for some time, and no matter how much you pray, you are not being healed.
You suffer from depression, and your prayers seem to fall on deaf ears.
Someone you loved dearly died.
Your dad has been absent from your life, and when you needed him, he was never truly there, despite your prayers for him to love you.
You are struggling financially, even though you have been praying for relief for a very long time.
Your relationship isn't working out the way you want it to.
You didn’t study for an exam, prayed that God would help you pass, but still failed.
You have been without a job for a very long time, and it doesn’t seem as if God is going to help you.
If I had to ask everyone I know to share what they are praying for at this moment, it would fill books of prayers and requests to our Heavenly Father.
I would like to share with you what I’ve learned through my own trials.
Trials in life are inevitable. You will experience trials - it’s not a matter of IF but WHEN. You cannot escape them. Our trials should always strengthen us in our faith and our love for God. Look to Him, not yourself. God is faithful, and His thoughts are not your thoughts, His ways are not your ways.
But why then does God not answer your prayers? I don’t know. But I do know that not getting what you ask for is also an answer - we just don’t favour this thought.
Does this mean you shouldn’t believe in Him or trust Him? No, that isn’t a good enough reason to abandon your faith or start blaming God for not answering your prayers.
If we're honest with ourselves we will realise that:
We are not always a people who persevere.
We are not always a people who trust Him.
We are not always a people who are obedient to God.
We are not always a people who relinquish control to God.
We are not always a people who believe His word.
We are not always a people who look to Him.
Just this morning, I proclaimed this verse with joy and peace as I prayed (James 1:2-4, amended to make it my own):
“Lord, I count it all joy in this trial, knowing that the testing of my faith produces patience. So, I will let patience have its perfect work, that I may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Jesus will reveal Himself to you in ways you cannot explain.
When you feel you don’t have what it takes, remember that it’s not about your own strength. You may feel like giving up, stopping your prayers because you see no change. But this is when you should pray even more, ask for more faith, and cry out to God even more, because He said:
‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
Please, don’t wait any longer. Let go of your pride, your self-sufficiency, and the need to control how God should act. Even if all you have are tears, even if you have no words left, bring it all to Him. He is longing for you to come closer, to surrender, and to know His everlasting love in a deeper way.
Don’t waste your trials! He wants to show you something, teach you something, and reveal His love in ways you never thought possible.
I pray that you will lean into God’s loving presence and take absolutely everything to Him - your anger, disappointment, rage, bitterness - whatever you feel and experience.
Talk to Him about it, talk to Him about everything.
Don’t stop talking to Him.
He truly, truly loves you!
