Every one of us faces trials. The trial may be poor health. It may be marital tension. It may be persecution from unbelievers. It may be a struggling child. It may be an unstable job. It may be the emotional and physical changes during the teen years. It may be a parent that seems unreasonable. No matter what your trial may be, the devil wants you to have a bad attitude during the trial.

On Thursday, when I was on my walk, I was praying about our health issues, the Lord convicted me that my prayers bordered on complaining. After my walk, during my Bible reading time, I read Numbers 21:4-6. The Lord used these verses to convict me more about my attitude. This evening I want to share with you some of the principles I learned and must now apply to my life.

Transition

We are going to look first at four reasons we must not have a bad attitude during trials and then at four actions we can take to keep a good attitude during trials.

Four reasons we must not have a bad attitude during trials.

  1. A bad attitude during trials is a sign of selfishness.
    1. Do you ever find yourself praying “Lord, why me?” “Why do I have this problem?” “Why don’t you take this trial out of my life?”
    2. If we pray like that, our focus is really on self not on God’s will. We are having a selfish pity party.
    3. The devil wants us to be selfish. God wants us to be self-less. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, (Matthew 16:24) “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
  2. A bad attitude during trials is rebellion against God.
    1. I do not like what God is allowing in my life.
    2. If we get upset with God about what He is allowing, we are really rebelling against him. We are disagreeing with Him. We are saying, “God, I don’t like what you are allowing in my life.”
    3. The Bible never portrays rebellion as good. In fact, one of the clearest passages on rebellion was God’s Word to King Saul when he did not follow God’s will. (1 Samuel 15:23) “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
  3. A bad attitude during trials displeases God.
    1. When we have a bad attitude, we often murmur and complain. Murmuring and complaining displeases God.
    2. God reminds us that murmuring displeases Him in the following verses. (1 Corinthians 10:10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (Philippians 2:14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
  4. A bad attitude during trials will bring God’s discipline upon us.
    1. God always chastens His children when they do wrong. (Hebrews 12:7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
    2. When we have a bad attitude we are really hurting ourselves by giving God reason to discipline us.
      ☆ Remember, a bad attitude during trials will never remove the trial. It will always make the problem worse.

Four actions we can take to keep a good attitude during trials.

  1. Admit selfishness in bad attitudes and deal with it as sin.
    1. As with any problem, the first step toward fixing the problem is to admit our fault.
    2. If you have had a bad attitude toward a trial in your life, stop and look at it closely. The root cause of a bad attitude is because the situation displeases ME! While selfishness has always existed, it is a sin that God said would increase in the last days. (2 Timothy 3:2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
    3. After you admit selfishness, deal with the sin as God prescribes. (Proverbs 28:13) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
  2. Allow God to be sovereign in your life.
    1. God sees things we cannot see. He allows things that we may not understand this side of heaven. God gives us a glimpse of this in the book of Job. (Job 2:3) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
    2. We must accept that God has a purpose in every trial. We see this illustrated in the life of the man born blind as well as in Paul’s life.
      1. (John 9:3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
      2. (2 Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
  3. Make it your prayer and goal to have a good attitude during trials
    1. We must stay close to God. Job was that kind of man. (Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
    2. We must ask God to help us keep a good attitude. Job was an awesome example for us to follow. (Job 1:21) And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Later in the same book Job said, (Job 23:10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
    3. We must give our burdens to the Lord and leave them with Him to deal with. (Psalms 55:22) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Philippians 4:6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
  4. We must think right to keep a good attitude
    1. Once God gives peace, we must think right to keep that peaceful good attitude. (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Returning to thoughts of bitterness, complaining, and discontent will again cause a bad attitude.
    2. Meditate on the good attitudes of Bible characters who suffered
      1. Job – blessed God when he lost all
      2. Joseph – remained true when sold as a slave
      3. David – endured Saul’s persecution without revenge
      4. Daniel – loyal to God though enslaved in Babylon
      5. Jesus – sinless yet crucified for our sin
      6. Stephen – stoned to death for his faith in Christ
      7. Paul – thorn in the flesh yet remained glad

Conclusion

Whether you are a young person or an adult, you will have trials in life. If you are not facing a trial right now, you will. Life is full of trials. Keeping a good attitude during trials is easier to talk about than it is to do. I believe that the four actions we have looked at will be a great help. 1) Recognize that bad attitudes are selfish sin and deal with it. 2) Allow God to be sovereign and do what He deems best. 3) Pray and work toward keeping a good attitude. 4) Think right to keep a good attitude.

Song: Cast Your Burden on the Lord.
—
A Good Attitude During Trials
3 April 2016 PM – Numbers 21:4-6– Fortifying the Family – Scott Childs