I've heard it said:

You are either coming out of a storm, in the middle of a storm or you are going into one.

That's a cheery thought isn't it?

Although frustrating to acknowledge at times, the trials we experience in life should never come as a surprise to us.

Scripture is clear that trials are inevitable this side of heaven.

So, rather than living in dread, how can we as believers and Christian parents prepare ourselves to navigate our trials in such a way that welcomes the opportunity for spiritual growth while also setting an example for our children and others?

In today's episode I am talking with Best-selling author and host of The Insurgence podcast, Frank Viola about his latest release, 

Hang On, Let Go: What To Do When Dreams Are Shattered and Life is Falling Apart

Included in today's conversation you will hear Frank and I discuss:

• the healthy Christian mindset in relation to trials
• God's purpose for trials
• how to struggle well through trials
• How we can waste a trial
• What to do when you are in a trial
• How to prepare yourself for the trial to come
• how to minister to others who are experiencing trials

This conversation is packed with Truth from scripture, practical application and points to ponder with the Lord as we seek to grow in our walk and seek to become more like Jesus and lead our children to do the same!

Connect with Frank and check out all of his resources by going to:

Frankviola.org

Listen to the Insurgence podcast

Download a sample of Hang On, Let Go 

Order a copy of Hang On, Let Go

Surviving Your Storm Course with Frank Viola

Connect with Somer on Facebook, Instagram and at somercolbert.com

To receive weekly updates from Somer's Ahavah Community click HERE!

 

FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS:

Why are we as Christians, so surprised by trials?

 

1 Peter 4:12

John 16:33

James 1:2

Matthew 8:24 

 

When you’re in a storm, things look out of control.

But they’re never out of control.

 

The good news is: 

Every storm runs out of rain 

Every trial has an expiration date 

It won’t be in your life forever

It came to pass

 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you…

 

Our Lord has less problem with our problems than we do

 

The land of regret is not a place that any Christian can afford to live in

 

If you dwell on your regrets, they will become an anchor that will hold you in the harbor

 

We can struggle well through inevitable trials

 

Understand the principle of hanging on and letting go - 

Abraham could not hold on to his most prized possession, his son. 

He had to let go.

He held on to the promise of God.

He held both together the laying down of Issac’s life and to the promise of God

 

Common ways we can waste a crisis:

 

1. Blame other people who are involved in their crisis and they become bitter

(If you allow bitterness to gain ground in your heart, it’s game over. Your spiritual life stops right there and you become toxic to other people) 

 

2. Blame God

(this is a horrible response because you cut yourself off from the very Source of your deliverance and from the One who will bring restoration, healing and joy out of your crisis)

 

Trials reveal the motivations of our heart in many ways

 

3. They don’t learn the lessons God is trying to teach them through their crisis

(in every trial and every crisis there are certain things the Lord is aiming at changing)

 

4. Cast away hope and move into despair

(once you have given up hope and you are in despair, your spiritual life stops as well)

Despair and bitterness are cousins - they are the arch enemies of the Christian

 

5. Blame yourself and quit on life

 

It doesn’t matter who brought the trial - God, the devil or you - God will use it the same exact way

 

The way the Lord uses trials:

 

• Every time God takes you to a new level in Him, He starts ridding you of some of your baggage
• There are things the Lord wants to remove from your life and mine and storms are designed to remove those very things.
• Storms come to test our hearts and they always expose our spiritual maturity and our commitment to Jesus Christ
• Your confession about what you believe about the Lord and how committed you are to the Lord doesn’t tell me anything. But a good hurricane will tell me everything by how you react.
• Sometimes a storm will show you things about yourself that you are not aware of
• Designed to deepen our intimacy with Jesus Christ

• In every storm we want an explanation but God wants to give us a revelation of His Son
• Our storms will constitute ministry for those who are having a storm of their own

• Our greatest service to other people comes out of our greatest trial - that is, if we don’t waste them.
  
  

When you’re in a trial: 

Breathe

That worst case scenario has not happened

You’re not alone

Begin the art of living in the present