Portraits of Grace

John MacArthur: This is John MacArthur with another edition of Portraits of Grace. Say, how do you approach trials? Do you consider them a potential opportunity to see God work, or do you lose focus on what God is doing and wallow in self-pity or something in between?

For some of you, the first hurdle you need to overcome is just the realization that trials are a part of the Christian life, a blessed part. Job 5:7 reminds us that trouble is inevitable, and Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation." But Paul said, "I never escaped suffering, trial, and persecution." But he said, "I have been afflicted every way but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed."

In fact, he did what James did. He counted it all joy. That's what a portrait of grace does: to display his trust in a sovereign Lord.