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At the end of Sunday’s message, Pastor left us with two questions: “What do you think you need most?” and “What are you depending on most?”  For this week’s AAT, I have decided to apply these questions to my own life by showing where I usually err in responding to trials, correcting those ways of thinking with Scripture, and then considering practical steps for growth. My desire is that you would then do the same in your life

“When I walk through trials, what do I think I need most?”  When I go through a trial, I find that I commonly think, “I just want to get out of this!” Based on what James 1:5-8 teaches, such a response is an indicator of a lack of wisdom and overall spiritual immaturity; I need to realize that the thing I need most in trials is wisdom—specifically, that I am rightly counting it all joy and that I am letting steadfastness have its full effect.

Practical steps of application: Whenever I think, “I just want out of this” (even if it is not those exact words), I will remind myself that God has put me in this trial so that my faith is matured (James 1:1-4). I will also ask God to help me realize that I need wisdom, and then daily pray that God would grant me wisdom to handle my trial correctly.

“When I walk through trials, what am I depending on most?”  I also find in trials that I usually depend on my own sheer willpower, telling myself “If I just grit my teeth and push through, I can get through this.” What does Scripture say about this response? According to James 3:14, relying on my willpower is a wisdom that is “earthly, unspiritual, and demonic,” because it does not bear the character of God (James 3:17).

Practical steps of application: In addition to praying daily that God will grant me wisdom, I will also ask God to help me not rely on my own strength and therefore doubt him; I will pray that God will help me to have spiritual integrity—that my thoughts, attitudes, and actions are consistent with Scripture

How can you get practical with your response to trials?