Turn Trials to Opportunity
By trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness, we can transform our trials into opportunities for growth and transformation.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the transformative power of surrendering to God's will, emphasizing how our temporary afflictions lead to an eternal weight of glory when we trust in Him. She encourages believers to be still, have cheerful hope, and accept whatever God allows in their lives, knowing that He understands their deepest needs and has chosen them as His own. Tileston highlights that when we make it our priority to do the Father's will, even the most challenging circumstances become opportunities for growth and conforming to the image of Christ.
Text
Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
--2 CORINTHIANS 4:17
ONLY be still, and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure,
And all-discerning love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
--GEORG NEUMARK, 1657
OH, how is the face of life altered, as soon as a man has in earnest made his first object to do his Father's will! Oh, how do, what before seemed grievous burdens, bodily sickness, domestic trial, privations, losses, bereavement, the world's scorn, man's unthankfulness, or whatever grief his Father may put upon him, how do these things change! To those, whose hope is in heaven, everything becomes a means of discipline, an instrument of strengthening their cheerful acceptance of their Father's will. Their irksome tasks, privations, sickness, heaviness of heart, unkindness of others, and all the sorrows which their Father allots them in this world, are so many means of conforming them to their Saviour's image. Then doth everything which God doeth with them seem to them "very good," even because He doth it. --EDWARD B. PUSEY
Sermon Outline
- The Purpose of Trials
- The Attitude of Trust
- The Result of Trust
- A cheerful acceptance of God's will
- A conforming to Christ's image
Key Quotes
“Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Only be still, and wait His leisure” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Then doth everything which God doeth with them seem to them 'very good,' even because He doeth it.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Make God's will your first priority in all aspects of your life.
- Seek to conform to Christ's image in the midst of trials and tribulations.
- Trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in difficult circumstances.