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1 Peter 1:7
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:

Revelation 3:18
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

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

When I think of trials and complexities of life there are three people that come instantly to my mind:

First and foremost Jesus Christ stands out as the epitome of grace, strength and resolve in the face of overwhelming adversity. If the ultimate cross were not enough we consider the day by day opposition that Jesus endured. What did Jesus say?

"In this world you will have tribulation, be of good courage, I have overcome the world."

W - O - W !!! What encouraging words in view of the overwhelming obstacles that Jesus faced. If not only being rejected by his very own, those who continued to oppose Him everywhere He went, and finally when He face the most severe test that mankind could face: the trial, scourging, and death of the cross, where were the disciples? They were the ones that he had poured three and one half years of dedication, teaching, loyalty, and passion into and now where are they at? The scripture said they all forsook Him and fled. One of them betrayed Him, one of them denied him, one of them doubted him. Think about it for a moment, one of them actually was a traitor to Him, yet He loved him.

Secondly, let's consider the Apostle Paul.

Luke the Evangelist or as Paul describes him as the beloved physician and disciple of Jesus catalogs for us in the history book of the church, the book of Acts the Apostle Paul's experiences regarding his struggles. The Apostle Paul himself writes in his memoirs the personal anguish he suffered in his writings to the church at Corinth. Listen as he describes his personal problems:

2 Corinthians 11:24-28

KING JAMES VERSION

[24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
[25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
[26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
[28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
[24] Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
[25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
[26] I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
[27] I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
[28] Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

Listen to his the account of Luke describing Paul when he was stoned to death:

Acts 13:19-20
[19] And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
[20] Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

We want miracles but not problems!

Could it be that while the Apostle Paul was laying there "dead", unconscious, or whatever state he was in that he had the experience he himself describes in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 (Actually the dates of both scriptures does allow for the timing to be correct)

[1] It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
[3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
[4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

So, what does a man like Paul who had nothing but trouble and problems all his
life and was stoned being left for dead have to say about all of this?

That's not what he said. Listen carefully at what he said:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
[16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
[17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
[18] 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.

What's that Paul? "Our light affliction"?
Imagine the Apostle Paul, the man who suffered so many things in life and yet refers to them as merely a "light" affliction!

What else does he say,

1 Corinthians 11:29-30
[29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
[30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Is that all you can say? No, there's more:
God gives Paul a "thorn in the flesh". I'm not here to debate what the thorn was but simply to remind us that after all of his difficult experiences lest he should be lifted up, or get the "big head" as we say today, the Lord allows a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him humble.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
[7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Finally, there is the "classic" example of Job.
What can we say about Job? Remember the book of Job is the oldest book of the Bible!

Job 1
[1] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
[2] And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
[3] His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
[5] And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

ENTER: SATAN…………….
Remember, "the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy."

The one thing that Job could have found solace in was the dearest thing in life to him and that was his wife but even Job's wife was so discouraged and unable to see the future that she encouraged Job to give up on life and just die, just die? No! Curse God and die! Whoa, that's discouraged. It's one thing to just give up on life and not see anyway out but to tell someone you might as well die but to tell them to curse God on the way out. This woman had reached the depth of the pit. Just blame God for everything. Isn't that what everyone does today? Blame God! Right…..that solves everything.

So, what does Job do say in response to all of this nightmare in his life?
Listen carefully:

Job 1
[20] Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
[21] And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
[22] In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Are you still listening? Listen some more:

Job 2:10
Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

If all of this was not enough, here comes his friends. They heard he had had some problems:

Job 2:11-13
[11] Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
[12] And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
[13] So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Think about it: for 7 days and nights they sat on the ground and did not speak one
word.

Finally, Job starts speaking and lets it all out and it's not good.

Job 3
[1] After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. (didn't curse God)
[2] And Job spake, and said,
[3] Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
[4] Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
[5] Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
[6] As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
[7] Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
[8] Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
[9] Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
[10] Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
[11] Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Job was simply saying why didn't I just die instead of being born?
So finally after 7 days his "friends" begins to answer Job:

Job's friends conclude:
1) Job has done something wrong
2) Job is a sinner and does not know how to be justified
3) Job is a hypocrite and a liar
4) Job has sinned
5) Whatever Job has done God has not punished him enough

Finally Job gets out of sorts with God and God answers Job.

Job 38 - 42
If we are not careful life's problems can make us get out of sorts with the Lord!

Finally Job repents and prays for his friends. It is at this point that Job's situation changes when he prays for his friends even though they spoke harshly against him.

What does Job have to say about all of these matters ?

Job 13:15
[15] Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 19:25
[25] For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

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

What is the outcome of these three examples?
1) Jesus is risen from the dead and has become the first-fruits of them that sleep in Him.

2) 2 Timothy 4:7-8
[7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
[8] Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

3) Job 42:12-13, 16
[12] So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
[13] He had also seven sons and three daughters.
[16] After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

Examples given to us in the scriptures:
Hebrews 11
[33] Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

[34] Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
[35] Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
[38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
[39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Present Day Comparisons:

Foxes Book of Martyrs details the accounts of Christians through the ages that were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Voice of the Martyrs gives current accounts of Christians throughout the world who are being martyred and persecuted for their faith and stand for Jesus Christ.

So, what are you going thru today or what have you experienced?

A broken marriage and divorce
A runaway child
Children on drugs
A handicapped child
Fighting cancer, sickness or disease
Been rejected
Loneliness
A drunken husband

Paul called his experiences a "light affliction".
Jesus said "in this world you will have tribulation".
Job refused to "curse God and just die".

SO…………WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Get mad at God
Quit the church
Blame the preacher
Blame the church
Blame your mom and dad
Blame somebody
Give it up

NO, A THOUSAND TIMES NO!

We are going to endure until the end.
We are going to become pure gold.
We are going to see God.