The Alternative

Dr. Tony Evans: God's goal is conforming us to Christ. And he will not be satisfied till you get there. Even painful circumstances can serve God's purpose in shaping us. It is to remind you of your humanity and you can do nothing without me.

Male Announcer: This is The Alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. Are the tough times in your life going to take you apart or put you back together better than ever? Join Dr. Evans in James chapter 1, verse 5, as he explains why the difference is up to you.

Dr. Tony Evans: Now there are three kinds of people who will hear this message today. Those who are in a trial. You, as you sit under the sound of my voice, are going through difficult trouble in life. A second group are those who are exiting a trial. You've broken free and finally you've gotten to breathe a sigh of relief. The third group are those who are about to enter into a trial. You just don't know it yet.

So there is a word for everyone here because it applies either you're in it, on your way out of it, or heading towards it. Some are or will be or have come out of physical trials. Something is wrong with the body and it won't go away. You feel bad, it affects your functioning at work, you've become more short-tempered with people because of how you feel.

You're aggravated by the inconvenience or by the pain, or if it's a physical dilemma bad enough, you're afraid because of the trouble of physical debilitation. Trials can come in the color called emotional, where something plagues the mind and you cannot get rid of the trouble. Something that happens that you cannot forget, something that goes on that is discouraging, and it occupies your mind and it is traumatic.

Some can come by circumstances. A loved one who dies an untimely death, a child who creates havoc, and any number of circumstances. It could be along that line, familial, family. A wife who doesn't understand, a husband who is an evil person, a disappointment with efforts put forth to do the best you can in home, and in any case, it is a trial because it is a circumstance that is causing you pain.

Jesus said in John 16:33, "In this life you will have tribulation." Bank on it. James says when you encounter various trials, so the issue is not if but when. Please notice however his clarification in verse 2: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." Please don't misread this: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you create various trials."

Trials created are of the temptation he begins to speak of in verse 13, when a man is tempted to do evil. He is talking now about trials you encounter. You just run into them because you're living. So if you're going through a tough time, don't be surprised. If life is crashing in on you at this moment, don't be shocked. It comes with this thing called life.

That leads to a second point that is critical: the reason for trials. He gives the reality of trials—you can't avoid them—but now he wants to discuss the reason for them beginning in verse 3. Knowing. The Greek word knowing is from the word *ginosko*. And that carries the concept of knowledge via experience. Knowing. Knowing.

Why is this critical? Because if you face a trial and don't know, if you can't connect the right set of data with the experience that you're going through, the trial will control you rather than you controlling the trial. The problem is not that many people in this room are undergoing trials. That's not the problem because everybody undergoes trials.

The problem is that many who undergo trials don't know. They do not know how to connect spiritual knowledge with unavoidable circumstances in life. Trials are the launching pad for your next level of spiritual growth. Trials are the launching pad for your next level of spiritual growth. He says three things about the reason for trials.

Number one, you are to know that your faith is being tested. He says in verse 3, "knowing that the testing of your faith..." Whenever you are going through a circumstance, God is putting your faith on the witness stand to testify. Whenever you go through a trial, remember God could have stopped that trial from getting to you. He could have blocked it like he blocks a lot of trials we won't even know we had till we get to heaven.

If God let everything that could come at us come at us, we would be screaming 24 hours a day. Because Satan has always got something he wants to do to disrupt our lives. So if God let it through, he let it through with a purpose. If he let it get by, he knew something that he wants you to know, and that is he wants to put your faith on a witness stand.

A trial is designed to go beyond saying amen. A trial is designed to go beyond saying that was a good sermon, pastor. A trial is designed to go beyond feeling good on Sunday morning. It is time to testify. And what he does is he puts what you believe to the test by allowing a circumstance to get through the line of scrimmage to your life. Or as David says in Psalm 17:3, trials are designed to test the heart so that it can be revealed what is there.

God through trial will identify weaknesses in order to develop faith and make it stronger. To remove impurities. Trials are designed to bring you to the point where your faith stands the test, no matter how hot the fire. Turn over a couple of pages to 1 Peter chapter 1 where he says a similar thing.

He says in verse 6, "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you will be distressed by various trials," same concept. "The proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

The proving of your faith. The test will not end till the faith has been proven, until you exercise your faith. That means apply what you know about God as revealed in his word to the trial that you are going through. God is after developing you through testing. And that is why Job says in Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." As his faith was being tested, his faith came through as fire. He didn't walk out on God or blame God. Trials hurt, but trials hurt as part of a test.

The second reason is to expand your endurance. Notice verse 3, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." This word endurance is from two Greek words that mean remain under. It means to be able to endure or handle the trial until its purpose has been completed. Now I got this firsthand since I came back on vacation and I decided I'm going to start getting up early in the morning and going to the gym.

Well, I started my weightlifting program. And I started with the curls and I started with the presses and I started with all this. 24 hours later, I was in a trial. I couldn't walk. My wife had to button my shirts. So I was in agonizing pain. Why? Because I had pressed upon me weights that I had not been used to. And the weight, which were designed to help me, were causing me more pain.

But through the encouragement of the one working with me, I went back and I had to lift more weight. And I struggled as I felt the pain, and then he told me, "Keep pressing on. Endure. Because as you work your way through it, this pain will subside and the process of physical development will occur. But if you quit, whenever you decide to start again, you got to go through this whole routine one more time."

In the trials of life, God puts weights on you. And he says don't quit, keep pumping. But when you pump the weights, it may produce more pain. But keep on pumping and don't quit because if you do, you're going to see muscle where flab had been. You're going to see spiritual development where weakness had occurred.

He says keep going, let your faith keep going. Trust him when it doesn't look like trusting him makes sense. Stay with him when you want to quit. He says it's like weight, it produces resistance, but it's designed for growth. Like a kite that soars high, it only does so on a windy day. God allows the wind to blow in the spiritual lives of his children that they might soar higher in their spiritual lives, that they might grow to the next level of spiritual growth.

Male Announcer: When Dr. Evans returns, he'll give us three practical responses that can help us keep growing when we're going through a trial. Well, as we've been learning, sometimes the problems we encounter aren't just problems. They're spiritual issues that can't be resolved without supernatural help. To help you get that, we're featuring a great resource right now: Dr. Evans' 30-day devotional, Trusting God in Turbulent Times.

Through scripture, encouraging insights, and practical challenges, Tony helps you find comfort and strength in God's faithfulness, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. We want you to have a copy of this powerful devotional book as our thank-you gift when you make a contribution to support our work here on the air and around the world. Along with it, we'll also send you all 16 full-length lessons in Tony's current two-volume series, James: Time to Grow Up.

It is available on CD, USB flash drive, or instantly downloadable MP3s. Visit tonyevans.org to take advantage of this offer, or call us at 1-800-800-3222, where resource team members are ready to help with your request. Again, that's tonyevans.org or by phone, 1-800-800-3222. We'll get back to today's message right after this.

Female Announcer: Life moves fast, and sometimes the most important thing you can do is slow down. You're invited to join Dr. Tony Evans and special guest Priscilla Shirer and Anthony Evans on a seven-day Caribbean cruise of rest and renewal. Beginning February 28, set sail from Fort Lauderdale to visit stunning destinations like Nassau, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and even a private island in the Bahamas.

But this journey is more than scenic beauty. It's a time to reconnect with God and with others. You'll experience life-changing teaching, uplifting worship, and moments of peace that are hard to come by in the middle of everyday life. Whether it's a quiet morning on deck or a shared moment of praise with fellow believers, every part of this cruise is designed to refresh your body and your soul. Make plans now to step away so you can step back renewed. Visit tonyevans.org for details and reservations. That's tonyevans.org.

Dr. Tony Evans: What should your response be to trials? Let me give you three things you should do if you're going through a trial or when you go through one. Here are the three things you should do regarding trials. I'm telling you, this is the quickest way to get out is to do these three things. Number one, verse 2: count it all joy. Instead of bickering, complaining, whining, crying, seeking revenge, or getting back, because now you know that God is up to something, count it all joy.

Now don't misinterpret that. He does not mean to feel good about the pain of your problem. That's not what it means. He says count, not feel. Evaluate your trials from the standpoint of joy. Now what does that mean? That means say to yourself, "Self, God is up to something here. God, I do not know what you're up to, but you let this trial come into my life, so you are obviously up to something. So I'm going to praise your name, not for the trial but for what you're up to."

That's what it means to count it all joy. Because you know that God is up to something, your first response should be to count it all joy. Your outlook determines your outcome. Your attitude will determine your action. It is not about feeling, it's about counting, a decision of the will. Now what happens when you don't count it all joy? You lose the provision of grace. And grace is God's supply to take you through anything he gives you.

He giveth more grace. So you nullify grace when you don't count it as joy. So if you're going through a trial, then you can make a decision no matter how you feel to say, "I decide to be joyful about what God is doing." Second thing you must do: go to God and ask him for wisdom, ask for help. What are you asking him? To get you out? No, because perseverance doesn't mean it's necessarily time to get out. You're asking him for wisdom.

"If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God." What is wisdom? You're going through a trial and yet you're supposed to count it joy. That's a paradox, that's a contradiction. How can I count joy what I'm going through? Make sense of this for me. Make sense of this for me. It doesn't mean he's going to take you out. It doesn't mean you're even going to know why you're going through it, but show me how I am to respond to get the most out of what you're doing right now.

That's your prayer. Show me how to respond to get the most out of what you're doing for me right now. The Bible says in 2 Peter 2:9, God is bigger than your trials. Listen, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. So anything that you face, you're not the only one that's ever faced it. You're not the only one that will face it.

And that's why fellowship is so important, because you hook up with other people who have faced it and seen God bring them through, so that you know there's hope for you too. That's why you can't be a lone ranger Christian. There is commonality. You haven't been singled out. God is not picking on you. Why is this happening to me? Well, it's happened to a bunch of other people that God had to teach the same thing with that he's teaching you too.

So pray for wisdom. But how do you pray? Listen closely. He says God will give it to you freely. He just would love to tell you what he wants you to learn, but let him ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord. He talks about the double-minded person. This is the split personality Christian.

This Christian is unstable and perplexed. Faith says yes, unbelief says no, doubt says yes and no. This is a Christian who wants to go two ways at one time. They want to do it their way and still want God to do it his way. They want some of God and some of them. They want to see what God wants, but then they want to see what they want. They have a split personality and God says I'm not going to compromise what I'm going to do in your life. I got to have the whole thing, so give me the whole ball of wax.

Turn it all over to me. "God, you must show me what you're up to in my life. It's all in your hands." Give it all to me. If you're going to come to me, then bring it all to me. And you only do what I tell you to do, what you're supposed to do, what I've revealed to you to do, but you bring it all to me and stop half-stepping with this stuff. Many times believers come for counsel talking about pray for me.

And after you pray for them and tell them what God wants them to do, they still go out and do what they want to do. God says you will not receive anything from me, and that's why you're not getting any answers to prayers, that's why you're not getting any solutions. Did you know that that mate that you want to leave may be God's test in your life to take you to the next spiritual level, and you just think I don't want to be married anymore?

Did you know that? That that may be God's purpose for you, and he will keep you miserable and every other mate you find will be as messed up as the mate you left, because you never passed the test of what he was trying to teach you in the first place. Because if God is against you, you can't find the right person.

And then he says praise: "But let the brother of humble circumstance glory in his high position, and let the rich man glory in his humiliation because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises and the scorching wind withers the grass and flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed, so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away."

Very quickly, he says give glory to God in the midst of your trial. He gives two trials. A poor man who doesn't have money—got some of them here—and the rich man who's running into something money can't get him out of. We got some of them here. Poor people who don't have money, he says glory in your position in Christ. Rich people, you get sick and money can't buy that cancer out of you, money can't buy that wayward child back home.

He says glory in your humiliation. If you run out of money, give glory to God. "Lord, right now I've run out of money but I want to thank you I have my health. I want to thank you that you've taken care of me. I want to thank you there's food on my table. I want to thank you there's clothes on my back. In my poverty, I want to praise you."

And then if you have a little money but you got something money can't buy, "Lord, I want to glorify you. I want to glorify you that money can't buy me out of this, so that I won't pull out Mastercard, Visa, or American Express. I'm going to run to Jesus Christ and ask him to do it." In other words, whether you're poor or rich, when life crashes in, give glory to God because God allows trials to force us back to him.

Because when you get money, then you pay cash, you don't pray. That's what he's saying. It is to remind you of your humanity and you can do nothing without me. He closes with this verse, verse 12. "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial, for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him."

This is the reward of trials. He says the reward of trials is victory. When the trial has been finished and the lesson has been learned, then approval will be given. Passed. And when you pass, you can graduate. When you graduate, you go across the stage, you get a diploma, and there's a cap on your head. He calls the cap in verse 12 the crown of life.

God puts a graduation cap. He passed elementary school, he graduates to junior high—more tests. He passed junior high, he graduates to high—more tests. He graduates from high, he goes to college—more tests. He graduates from college, he goes to the workplace—more tests. But he will graduate you from that trial. It took Abraham 25 years to graduate to become the father of all nations when he offered up Isaac.

It took Moses 85 years to graduate to lead the children of Israel. I don't know how long it's going to take you. You have a lot to say about that by how you take the test. I do know this: when you graduate, he will say passed and your fondest dreams will come true, your greatest desires. Some of you single ladies are looking for a husband.

God is waiting for you to pass the test. When you pass, then he going to show up. As long as you're fussing and fighting and complaining, you will be alone. Many of you want a career move. God is saying I'm going to keep letting them skip you till you pass my test. Then I'll let you pass their test. God will continue to do it until you pass the test.

Male Announcer: Dr. Tony Evans talking about the upside of the downturns we face in life. Part of his current series called James: Time to Grow Up. This two-volume, 16-lesson collection offers practical, clear direction for making wise, God-honoring decisions when things get confusing.

And as I mentioned earlier, it's yours along with the bonus of Dr. Evans' 30-day devotional, Trusting God in Turbulent Times, as our thank-you gift when you support Tony's ministry with a contribution. This unique package offer won't be available for long, so don't miss out. Visit tonyevans.org to make the arrangements today, or get some in-person help by requesting it through our resource team at 1-800-800-3222 any time of the day or night.

That's tonyevans.org or by phone at 1-800-800-3222. Trials and temptations are a part of life. But the choices we make in those moments can have lasting consequences. Next time, Dr. Evans looks at the price of temptation and shows how we can stand strong when facing the opportunity to give in. Be sure to join us.