TEST, TRIALS, & TRIBULATIONS: 5 TIPS TO HANDLE LIFE’S LEMONS

Have you ever taken a lemon, peeled off the skin and popped the fruit into your mouth?  Chances are the answer to that question is no.  Lemons in and of themselves are extremely sour and unpleasant to the taste.  Yet, we don’t eliminate them from our diets because we recognize the benefits lemons provide.  In this sense lemons are a lot like trials.  Therefore, God permits us to experience various test, trials, and tribulations understanding that the benefits we experience through them far outweigh the unpleasantness.

Yet, often times it’s hard to navigate through trials.  The sour juice of life’s lemons overtake us seeming to make are trials unbearable.  So what is a believer to do? How are we to better handle the sourness of life’s pains?

Below are five principles I’ve found to be extremely helpful when facing life’s lemons.

1. Be prepared for lemons. In life everyone gets their fair share of lemons.  Life’s lemons are no respecter of person.  No one is exempt.  We all experience test, trials, and tribulations.  Not because we deserve them, but simply because we live in a sinful world.  Therefore if we understand that in life we will receive a lemon or two we can mentally prepare ourselves to better handle life’s tribulations.
2. Understand that lemons have benefits. The enemy sends lemons are way to destroy us.  However, God has another plan which trumps his every single time.  Just like the lemon is full of beneficial properties, so are our trials.  God infuses each and every one of our tribulations with medicinal properties.  He fills them with benefits that will strengthen our characters and heal our sin sick souls.  God is not in the business of wasting our pain, instead he uses it to makes us better, stronger, and fit for His kingdom.
3. The benefits might not be visible immediately. When one is experiencing a weakened immune system lemons are a natural remedy that can be utilized.  Like most natural remedies the results aren’t visible immediately but healing is in fact taking place.  This is exactly what happens when we experience trials.  Deep within us God is working some powerful things out We might not notice immediately but when the time is right we realize the benefits.  The Bible tells us that, “… all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His ” Romans 8:28 NKJV.
4. God will make our lemons bearable. Drinking the juice of a lemon undiluted can be a bit unbearable.  This is why lemon juice is often diluted with water. Likewise, God wants to dilute the pain of our trials.  He desires for us to take a sip of His living water so that we are better able to bear our test.  But He can’t force this upon us. This is a choice that we must make.  His water is readily available to us but we must choose to experience Him on this level.  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear ” 1 Corinthians 10:13
5. Indescribable peace can be experienced through your test. Lemon juice doesn’t just have to be simply bearable. We have the ability to sweeten it up with sugar or honey and make it a pleasant drink.  Similarly, we can find peace and joy in the midst of our trials.  The bible says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3 NKJV.  I’ve read this verse hundreds of times in my life and never fully understood how one could experience joy in the midst of a trial, that is until I experienced it for myself.  God is such an awesome God that He has the ability to pour out the sweetness of His mercy and His grace on our situations.  Sweetening them up so much that we can find joy in the midst of our sorrows.  Let me be clear, the joy does not arise from the pain of our sorrows but it arises from the relationship we develop with the conqueror of our trials.

People often ask how is that I’m able to get through my most difficult trial.  My answer is simply this:  I took a sip of the living water, allowed Jesus to pour the sweetness of His grace and mercy upon me and now I have peace unspeakable peace.  My lemon is still very sour but through the power of God I am able to bear it.

I’m certain that you like me have experienced your fair share of life’s lemons.  How have you been able to handle them?  What words of wisdom can you share to encourage someone else?  Please share this post and comment below.