King David’s Trials Were Worthwhile
You may have recently noticed the Bible verse about trials of many kinds. Maybe because it reminded you of your CTkid who griped about the “mean” or “irritating” video gameplay he just endured. Now the “trials” verse seems intriguingly relevant to his complaint.
Why has your heart made that connection?
Maybe the Holy Spirit is giving you an opportunity to effectively train up your CTkid in the way he considers his video game experiences.
It might look like this: You ask him about the latest video game he has played. He tells you, and you may or may not recognize it–that’s okay. He then complains about how so many of the other players are frustrating or obnoxious. You listen patiently. You say it sounds like a trial…because it couldn’t be very fun playing with players like that.
You recount having read in James about challenges…consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds. After all, blessed is a man who perseveres under trial (James 1:12).
Certainly you expect more important ordeals than this to eventually befall your CTkid. Yet this is his current trial, and you want it to be instructive.
That kind of antagonism is meant to be beneath us.
Although James was addressing believers about trials testing their Christian faith, there’s no reason you can’t prepare your avid video game player for weightier ones now.
And the beauty of comparing the trial of Christian persecution in the first century to one dealing with an obnoxious 21st century videogame competitor is that they really can’t be compared. Which then begs the question worth sharing with your CTkid: How do we distinguish worthwhile trials from unworthwhile ones? Which is he facing and why does he think so? Listen for his unique perspective.
When we experience a trial for a really good cause—such as the cause of Christ—it develops perseverance in us. Perseverance then produces character, and character, hope (Rom 5:3-4). Yet when we experience a trial for a more mundane, worldly purpose, it intends to antagonize us. That kind of antagonism is meant to be beneath us; we’re meant to rise above it.
His playing a game with an antagonistic competitor isn’t likely a weighty challenge. Yet it may produce consternation, rather than character. It likely coaxes a sinful response from him rather than a fruit of the Spirit.
We seem to instinctively know when a trial is worth facing, you tell your CTkid. Was that a trial worthy of you? Did it strengthen your character and improve you? Did it help you lean on God and therefore increase your hope and faith?
Share with him examples of biblical trials–or your own adversity that God has seen you through. Challenge him to find worthier situations in which to experience trials that will play out to his eternal benefit.