1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

Being born-again does not exempt us from experiencing trials and tribulations in this world. However, Jesus, in John 16:33 and James, in James 1:2 tell us to rejoice whenever we encounter them! That’s because we can face each trial with joyful confidence, knowing the victory over each one is secured! All we are required to do is keep our attention on what God’s Word says concerning the trial. Trials are not easy nor are they comfortable, however they certainly put our faith to the test. Since the devil’s only legitimate battleground concerning the believer, is the mind, we must be sure to re-enforce our thoughts and emotions with God’s Word. A mind renewed to God’s truth is calm, stable, well-balanced and well disciplined (2 Timothy 1:7). It will easily recognize thoughts and emotions that are from the enemy. Those thoughts have a mandate to overwhelm us with anxiety and discouragement, and they pull us into the realm of fear. But a mind renewed to God’s Word is so securely anchored in what He thinks, when trouble comes, its first response is to laugh at the devil! Why? Because it knows the outcome is going to be victorious - even before we cast the care over to Him! Once we have given the problem over to the Lord, we keep our minds focused on victory, and we answer every negative thought of the enemy with the Word! The faith, joy and peace of God will flow up from within our spirits like a mighty force, and keep us in that place of victory, until the answer is manifest, and the need is met! This is called patience - it’s a supernatural force of God that undergirds our faith, making it unwavering and unshakable - until we see the favourable outcome! The Word says it’s the testing of our faith that produces this patience. Never allow the enemy to derail you or take you out by making you think you can’t overcome these trials. Faith is what pleases the Lord, and our joy is an indication of our confidence in Him to honour His Word.  Which is why we can overcome every trial joyfully!