From Baptism to Battle (2)

Title: “When Trials Come: What God Might Be Teaching You”

Introduction:

Anybody ever have a hard time being positive?

Let’s be honest — we all do.

Family: Trying to fit in all the holiday parties, plans, and traditions.

Friends: Too many friends pulling you in every direction… or too few and you feel forgotten.

Politics: “I don’t like anything that person says — no matter what!”

Weather: Too hot. Too cold. Never just right.

Team: “They don’t perform well enough.”

Job: “I wish I was appreciated more.”

Leadership: “I wish they’d do it differently.” Then new leadership comes and… we still aren’t happy!

Spouse: “She can’t cook. He can’t clean. He needs to take care of his teeth.”

Kids: “They don’t show respect. They don’t do their homework. They’re not growing up fast enough.”

Self: “I don’t look the way I want. I haven’t accomplished what I hoped.”

The Church: “The music’s too loud. The pastor preaches too long. The programs don’t meet my needs.”

Here’s the truth, church family — you don’t always get what you want.

I was in the woods the other day, wanting that big ten-point buck to walk out… but it didn’t. Didn’t happen.

That’s life, isn’t it?

All this negativity has a root — one of the greatest sins we all struggle with — and Jesus named it in Matthew 7:3–5:

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?”

We can’t always change our circumstances, but we can change our perspective. Which often requires us to take the log out of our own eye first.

That brings us to Mark 1:9–15 — where we see Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and calling. Three movements that help us shift our focus from negativity to faith.

1. Affirmation in Baptism (Mark 1:9–11)

Mark 1:9–11 ESV

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Two things stand out here:

John’s affirmation — Baptizing Jesus validated his ministry. It showed his message was from God.

Jesus’ humility — The Son of God came from an insignificant town, Nazareth, to model obedience and humility.

Here’s what that means for us:

Don’t believe the lie that you aren’t good enough for God to use you.

If God can use John in the wilderness and Jesus from Nazareth, He can use you where you are.

And notice — before Jesus did any miracles, preached any sermons, or gathered any followers — God said, “You are my beloved Son.” That’s identity before activity. Affirmation before accomplishment.

And that’s what baptism reminds us of — we are loved not because of what we do, but because of who God says we are.

John 1:12–13 — “To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”

When you accept (receive), believe (Jesus), and confess (live) Jesus, you are God’s child. That identity is what sustains you when life gets hard.

John 16:33 — “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

So when your job gets hard, parenting feels overwhelming, or the diagnosis comes — remember who you are. You are God’s beloved child. And that identity gives you strength for the storm.

2. Trials Are Going to Come (Mark 1:12–13)

Mark 1:12–13 ESV

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

“The Spirit immediately drove Him into the wilderness…”

The Spirit — not Satan — drove Jesus into the wilderness.

That means trials aren’t evidence of being away from God — they can actually be signs that God is at work in you.

Charles Spurgeon once said:

“Trials are no evidence of being without God, since trials come from God.”

Even Jesus faced them. Paul faced them. The apostles faced them. You will too.

James 1:2–4 — “Count it all joy when you meet trials… for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Trials strengthen you. Temptations are meant to destroy you. Don’t confuse the two.

Sometimes God will lead you into difficulty not to punish you, but to prepare you. He knows what lies ahead, and He’s forming you for it.

3. Trials Don’t Have to Break You — They Can Make You (Mark 1:14–15)

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

“After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel…”

Notice: After the trials/wilderness came the ministry.

William Dyer said, “Fiery trials make golden Christians.”

The wilderness prepared Jesus for His calling. Your trials are preparing you for what’s next.

When life feels out of control — when the schedule is packed, the season is heavy, the disappointment runs deep — stop and ask:

“God, what are You teaching me here?”

Maybe He’s teaching you dependence when everything feels unstable. Maybe He’s pruning pride. Maybe He’s strengthening patience. Whatever it is, He’s not wasting it.

Conclusion:

Nobody chooses trials. But now that we know they’re coming — and that they’re opportunities for growth — we can face them differently.

The time is now for you start believing like Jesus has come, lived, died, defeated all death. And that you can live a NEW LIFE IN HIM! The time is now. Not tomorrow. Not when you feel better. Not when you feel like it. Not when situations get better. BUT NOW.

This trial isn’t meant to break you. It’s meant to make you.

Instead of running from the hard, face it. Instead of complaining, ask, “God, what do You want me to change?” Instead of negativity, remember — you’re a child of God.

Closing Word Picture:

Negativity is like cloudy days. Avoidance turns you into a hermit. But when your outlook shifts — when you start to see the sun piercing through the clouds — that’s perspective. That’s faith. That is what it means to not see trials as meant to break you, instead they can MAKE YOU!!!!!!! Make you for something in the future.

Who needs God’s help today to view the trials they are in differently.