The Storybook Journal: Reflections: 2 Chronicles 20 // Stages of Trials

The stages of a trial.

If you're anything like me, when you're encountered with a trial sometimes it's hard to know where you are in the middle of it, you don't know which way is up anymore, and you get in your head and forget to take it to the LORD to deal with it. I tend to do this thing where I hunker down into autopilot and just get through life waiting for it to be over so I can get on to the blessing stages.

Well, today I read 2 Chronicles 20, and noticed a very clear and structured look of a trial. I like how the whole chapter shows the entirety of Jehoshaphat's trial with being attacked from beginning to end- making it easy to be read, pondered on, and dissected.

I will not go into the whole story of this chapter here... for the sake of keeping this post short and chewable, I will encourage the reader to read the chapter for themselves, to study it and to get the context. In this post I only want to discuss the different stages of a trial that I noticed.

Stage 1: Fear... of the trial (Verse 3)

"Jehoshaphat was afraid." It's the moment when things start getting difficult. You really start to feel the trial itself. It might cause insecurity, anxiety, and fear. The important thing to note is that it's not a sin to be afraid... it only matters what you do with the fear. Which leads me to the next stage.

Stage 2: Responding... to the trial itself (Verse 3-4)

"[Jehoshaphat] turned his attention to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the LORD; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the LORD." What matters is how you RESPOND to the fear. Always respond well by seeking the LORD and giving the trial into His hands... He can't work on something until you give it to Him to work on!! You have to let go of it yourself first.

Stage 3: Recognizing... the power of God (Verse 6-7)

"and he said, "O LORD the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You." In the midst of a trial, put God where He belongs... at the top. Recognize that God is the all powerful ruler of everything. Recognize that nothing can stand against Him or His will for you or the earth.

Stage 4: Remembering... God's past faithfulness (Verse 7)

"Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?" This is probably one of the best bits of advice I can offer to anyone in a trial. Remember what God has already done for you. Remember His past faithfulness. Remember His past goodness, kindness, sovereignty. God has not changed! He has been faithful in the past and He will be faithful now and in the future. Great is His faithfulness.

Stage 5: Believing... that God will be faithful NOW (Verse 9, 12)

"We will... cry to You in our distress, and You will hear us and deliver us...We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." Believe that God will get you through this. Believe that He will be faithful just as He has in the past. Believe that you are not alone. Believe that this is not all in vain.

Stage 6: Result / Resolution / Blessing... of God's faithfulness (Verse 24-26)

"When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped. When [they] came to take their spoil, they found much...including goods, garments, and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much. Then on the fourth day...they blessed the LORD. Therefore they named that place "The Vally of Beracah (Blessing)". This is the part we all wait for. The other side of the trial! It might look different for everyone depending on the trial, the timeline, and God's plan for it. But the end is worth it- sweet blessing from the Lord.

Stage 7: Peace... in God's rest (Verse 30)

"So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God gave him rest on all sides." How blessed it is to partake in the peace of God's rest! There is nothing else like it in this life, there is nothing that compares.

Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, I hope these stages encourage and inspire you. And remember, God has never let you down, and He never will.