Have you ever felt that you are at the end of the line? I do not know that in my ministry, not only in the local church but in the communities in which I serve, I have seen more trials and tough times than I have the last few years. Perhaps it is the economy, perhaps it is the culture, perhaps it is I am just getting older and more observant and sensitive to these things, yet I must say it is really a tough time for many of us.

Perhaps you are one of those who are going through some trials or tough times in your life. I know in our own community of Pea Ridge there are many of us who have really gone through it or are in the midst of tremendous adversity.

Although it certainly is not on the same level of the seriousness of living life in the real world, our own Pea Ridge Blackhawk football team has suffered some adversity here of late. They are a great group of young men and they are finding out that in football, and even through some real life issues, that things can sometimes go terribly awry. What will they learn through this adversity?

Hopefully the same thing that we learn as we go through trials and tribulation. In James 1:12 and the preceding context, we are told that as we go through the testings of life that God has provided for us a way of coping and ultimate victory!

We are told first of all that He gives WISDOM. Not just common sense or a greater intellectual understanding of our circumstances, but wisdom.

This wisdom is God’s perspective on our problems and our trials. We need this in order to understand what in the world is going on and how to respond.

Secondly, we are given FAITH to access this wisdom.

We are told that we are to ask believing that God is the one that ultimately allows us to persevere and see the trial through. Then, thirdly we are told that God EXALTS US in our lowly condition. That it is the lowly man that God draws close to. It is the Lord who lifts us up when we are at our lowest. We are then told that at the end of this life we are given a “crown of life” by the Lord because of our testing. This is the promise of God’s REWARD and the blessing of eternity anda Heavenly home.

Our family experienced this very thing when we battled cancer with our oldest son Michael when he was diagnosed with Burkett’s Lymphoma when he was 9 years old. It was touch and go for a while and the next five years were very tedious and anxious for all of us as we learned how to live life in the midst of pediatric cancer.

God’s wisdom, faith, grace, encouragement and our ultimate hope in Heaven were more than enough to see us through.

It was not easy, but we were able to make it and find our joy along the way.

Today, Michael is a very healthy 19-year-old young man playing on this very Blackhawk team that is going through some tough times themselves.

It is because of his experience that he is able to keep it all in perspective. My prayer is that both he and his brother, who also plays for Pea Ridge, can continue to learn about life’s trials through the great game of football - even when it is tough - even when things don’t go right - even when we are tested. They need to learn that being on the wrong side of the scoreboard is never fun and can often times hurt, but it does not compare to some of the issues ahead of them.

However, the most important thing is that at the end of it all, what we learn through tough times will be worth it all. God has not abandoned us.

In fact, He is with us, seeing us through. Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not this Sunday find your way to a Bible-believing, gospel-preaching church in our area where you can learn how to find a little help in some tough times. It may be tough, it may be hard, it may seem impossible, but I will assure you, help is on the way!

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Editor’s note: Jack Maddox is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield. Follow him on his blog at www.wordpress.

jackmaddox.com, or e-mail him at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 10/13/2010