FML

We've all done it before. You find yourself in an unfortunate circumstance, and as a way to cope with the situation, you vent to another friend, only to end your rant with "FML". You and your friend then have a good laugh, maybe throw in a "yea that sucks brah", and then move on to the next topic of conversation. If I've lost you already, check out a few examples pulled from the ever so popular fmylife.com site:

Today, at work, after a visit to the bathroom, the lock broke in my hand and the door was jammed. I called the janitor on my cellphone and told him about the situation. He told me to fill out a complaint and leave it in his post box. He then hung up. FML

Today, my boyfriend ditched me, saying he had some important things to do. When I checked on him a while later, I found out what was so "important". A game called Robot Unicorn Attack. FML

So you see? It's a way to make light of our daily misfortunes. But how do we handle the bigger, more serious, legit trials that we go through? I'm talking about when we are truly suffering. Very early on in my Christian walk, I think a lot of times I would throw up a prayer and ask God to get me out of my existing circumstance. I would then wait based on a time table I had decided was a sufficient amount of time for God to take action. Nothing changed. I would then get angry with God, chalk it up to bad luck and develop the "woe is me" attitude. Sound familiar? I was operating like this until a sermon revealed to me two very important myths I believed to be true.

Myth #1: God works only through divine intervention

Truth: God has the power to change circumstances if He chooses
"...A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "QUIET! BE STILL." Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. " Mark 4:37-39

Truth: Immediate relief from circumstances isn't guaranteed

The first time the apostle Paul was thrown in prison for preaching the gospel God sent an earthquake that same night to allow Paul to escape. HOWEVER, the second time Paul was thrown in prison, God did nothing to change the circumstances, so Paul ended up staying there for several years. Did you know that during his time in the slammer Paul wrote much of the New Testament ?!?!?!?(Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). Sometimes God doesn't change the circumstances because He wants to work in us and through us!

Myth #2: When bad things happen, it's just bad luck

Truth: There is purpose in trials and God promises wisdom
"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. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. " James 1:2-6

In fact, the Bible lays out at least 25 potential reasons as to why Christians might suffer:

1.Produce the fruit of patience

Romans 5:3; James 1:3-4; Hebrews 10:36

2. To produce the fruit of joy

Psalm 30:5; Psalm 126:5-6

3. To produce the fruit of maturity

Ecclesiastes 7:3; 1 Peter 5:10

4. To produce the fruit of righteousness

Hebrews 12:11

5. To silence the devil

Job 1:9, 10, 20-22

6. To teach us

Psalm 119:67, 71

7. To purify our lives

Job 23:10; Psalm 66:10-12; Isaiah 1:25; 48:10; Proverbs 17:3; 1 Peter 1:7

8. To make us like Christ

Hebrews 12:9, 10; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

9. To glorify God

Psalm 50:15; John 9:1-3; 11:1-4; 21:18-19; Philippians 1:19-20

10. To prevent us from sinning

2 Corinthians 12:7, 9-10

11. To make us confess when we do sin

Judges 10:6-7, 15-16; Psalm32:3-5; Hosea 5:15; 6:1; 2 Chronicles 15:3-4

12. To chasten us for our sin

1 Peter 4:17

13. To prove our sonship

Hebrews 12:5-6

14. To reveal ourselves to ourselves

Job 42:6; Luke 15:18

15. To help our prayer life

Isaiah 26:16

16. To become an example to others

2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

17. To qualify us as counselors to others

Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

18. To further the gospel witness

Acts 8:1-5; Acts 16:25-34; Philippians 1:12-13; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-17

19. To make us more than conquerors

2 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:35, 37

20. To give us insight into God’s nature

Job 42:5; Romans 8:14-15, 18

21. To drive us closer to God

1 Peter 4:14; 2 Corinthians 12:10

22. To prepare us for a greater ministry

1 Kings 17: ; 1 Kings 18: ; John 12:24

23. To provide for us a reward

Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 19:27-29; Romans 8:16-17; 2 Corinthians 4:17

24. To prepare us for the kingdom

2 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:12

25. To show God’s sovereignty

Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 66:10-12; Genesis 45:5-8; Genesis 50:20

So hopefully now you're perspective on trials has changed. So before defaulting to "FML" maybe try and ask yourself "Is there a reason that this might have happened to me?" "What might God be trying to teach me or reveal to me? "What might God be trying to change in me?"