5 Reasons Trials Come -- Or, When Cockroaches Steal Your Quiet Time

Propped up in bed early one morning, I was reveling in the presence of God as I studied my Bible and prayed. My dog, Winston, was curled up beside me, occasionally sighing deeply, adding his heartfelt doggie amen to my prayers. It was a peaceful and reflective beginning to what promised to be an otherwise busy day.

And then I saw the cockroach.

In my peripheral vision, it crept into view, making its way stealthily up the wall and toward the ceiling. Unlike an ordinary cockroach, which usually testifies to an unclean house, this was a monster cockroach known to residents of South Carolina as a Palmetto Bug. Ordinarily they live outdoors in the pine straw that falls from the many yellow pines that dot our landscape. This one had most likely entered our home under the too-high threshold of our back door.

As soon as I spotted this Volkswagen-sized insect, the peaceful and reflective ambiance of my quiet time fled. The “fight or flight” rush of adrenaline jolted my senses, and I sprang into immediate action.  In my opinion, the only thing worse than seeing a Palmetto Bug and chasing it down is seeing a Palmetto Bug and letting it get away. Knowing that such a monster is lurking somewhere in my bedroom waiting for nightfall is enough to cause insomnia for a week.

I’ll spare you all the gory details of the battle, but suffice it to say that there is one less Palmetto Bug in the world. As my heart rate returned to normal and I flopped back onto the bed in exhausted victory, my eyes fell on my open Bible, which had slid to the floor in the fray.

Man, I thought, here I am, minding my own business, talking to GOD no less, and I’m attacked by a cockroach. Is nothing sacred?

Later that day, after taking a family member home from cancer treatment and on my way to a women’s Bible study, a rock flew up from the interstate and cracked my windshield.

 Wow, I thought, I could see if I was driving home from a bar on my way to rob a convenience store, maybe then I’d deserve a rock through the windshield, but cancer treatment and Bible study? Really?!

Why do we think when we’re doing good things that we should be immune from difficulty?

Maybe because we look at hardships as punishment.

The New Testament gives several reasons for trials. Only one of them, sickness caused by sin as explained in James 5:14-15, points to our trials as punishment. Even in this instance, the purpose of the sickness is to reveal sin and draw the sinner back into a right relationship with God.

There are, however, several non-punishment reasons for trials:

1.  Trials come because we live in a sinful, broken world. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).

2.  Trials demonstrate the validity of our faith.  “These (trials) have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine. . .“ (1 Peter 1:7a).

3.  Trials perfect and mature us.  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

4.  Trials, and our right response to them, help us earn eternal rewards. “These (trials) . . .  may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7b). 

5.  Trials help us identify with Christ’s sufferings, knowing him more fully. “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12).  

Palmetto Bugs and rocks are small trials compared to some of the intense faith challenges many of you may be facing today. Small or large, though, I pray you will invite Christ into your trial, respond in faith and courage, and trust God to do a mighty work in and through it as you seek to honor him.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

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