Dr. C. S. Lovett’s
MARANATHA FAMILY NEWSLETTER
May 2025
SEVEN STEPS WHEN FACING A TRIAL
My friend Bill called me from his hospital room. He was fighting his third battle with cancer, and the outcome wasn’t good. His doctors said they had done all they could for him and were sending him home. He was afraid to face the Lord. “I’ve wasted my life. I haven’t lived for Him like I should. I have worked to get ahead in the world and for good times. I have almost nothing to show for my time on earth. I know that I will be standing before Him real soon, and I dread what He’s going to say to me.”
WHAT A SAD THING
It hurts God to have any of His children go out of this life like Bill. You expect most believers to be happy about leaving this life and being with Jesus. The Lord is not going to reward people for living for themselves instead of living for Him. The hard truth is—the place we give the Lord Jesus in this life, determines the place he will give us in the next. Our Savior knows it is hard to serve a Lord we cannot see. The old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind,” holds true. But for the believer, the Lord has a way of helping us. He uses the devil. You may laugh, but listen, God could destroy Satan with a single word, but He hasn’t. He permits the devil to remain on the scene to afflict us.
THIS IS HOW GOD HELPS US
There are no accidents in the life of a Christian. Every evil, hurtful, and stressful thing that happens to us, God arranges or allows for our benefit. So He uses Satan to prod us and make us look to Him for help. You see, you can't be an overcomer without something to overcome, and the devil can give us plenty to overcome.
Of course, if we choose to go our own way, the Lord will let us. He won't touch our wills, but we know by experience that our bodies and wallets can take a beating. Did you know that we Christians are like tea bags? That's right, tea bags. We don't come to full strength unless we're in hot water. You can smile at that, but it's true.
OF COURSE IT'S TRUE
Do we really pay any attention to the Bible passages that tell us that suffering and trials are normal for Christians? When we hear, for example,
"It is given unto you in behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake" (Phil. 1:29). Do we take it seriously? Or again, Peter's word to troubled believers. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing had happened to you, but REJOICE since you are partakers of Christ's sufferings. . ." (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Rejoice? That's the last thing we do. We are more apt to complain and cry for relief. We are not a bit joyful when sicknesses strike our bodies, when financial pressures mount, or when our marriages are in trouble. We want God to remedy the situation right now. Though we all agree there are no accidents in a Christian's life, it does not occur to us somehow that our present difficulty is part of His plan. So we beg God to take away the very thing He has allowed!
DON'T ROCK THE BOAT!
We resent anything that upsets our routine or peace of mind. We are so locked into this attitude that we RESIST CHANGE. Left to ourselves, WE WOULD NEVER CHANGE. To our thinking, good health, some money on hand, and time to enjoy it are the only ways to live. So we settle into the routine of three meals a day, on the job, and back to bed. In the process, we build houses and raise families, hoping to go through life as comfortably as possible. The sad thing is we do not grow. And growing into the likeness of His Son is the name of the game, as far as God is concerned (Rom. 8:29).
Most of us can look back and see how the greatest changes in our lives came at a time of crisis. We don't like sickness, disappointments, and tragedies, but God knows they are necessary, so He allows them.
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE?
"It's not the force of the gale but the cut of the sail that determines the way we go."—Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Heard that before? With its sail set properly, a ship can USE the fiercest wind to reach its destination quickly. It is not the force of the wind that makes the difference, but what a seaman does with it. So it is with trouble in our lives. It is NOT the severity of the trial that determines what happens to us, but our attitude toward it.
If we have the right attitude, we can make dramatic changes into the likeness of Christ. Here are seven steps to follow when a trial is sent into your life:
1. When a crisis comes, acknowledge that the Lord is trying to get your attention. He is forcing you to consider HIS plan for your life.
2. Assume the trial is no accident, that it is indeed from the Lord. That shifts your eyes from your circumstances to the Lord.
3. By faith, thank Him for the trial. This is your way of acknowledging that your life is in His hands. Anyone who loves you as much as He does will never hurt you.
4. Ask the Lord for wisdom to SEE what He is trying to teach you (James 1:5). The battle is half-won once you see the change God is after.
5. Be cheerful in your situation. Sad complaints to others are expressions of doubt in the Lord's wisdom and goodness.
6. Tell God you are WILLING to make changes; that you want to be like Jesus no matter what the cost. Then, as you see the change God is after, go to work on it.
7. As you feel the pain of reaching for maturity, remember this: "When I am getting the WORST of it, God is making the MOST of it, to see that I get the BEST of it."
"In EVERYTHING," says the apostle Paul, "give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18). It thrills God for us to praise Him when things "go wrong." If we consider that God is preparing us for unspeakable joy, we will find that we CAN rejoice in a tragic situation.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS
I know the Spirit can bear witness that the name of the game is CHANGE. We have got to grow NOW—tomorrow may be too late. There are no make-up classes in Christianity. We enter heaven just as we are at the point of death, AND NEVER CHANGE. If we want to grow in the likeness of the Lord, it has to be in THIS LIFE. Once we leave this world, the conditions for change (as we know them) simply do not exist.
Where we are going, there will be no tears, pain, or sorrow of any kind (Rev. 21:4). There will be no devil to tempt us, no hurt to forgive, no anxiety to conquer with patience, no way to become long-suffering. One must suffer a long time to develop that grace. Thus, the conditions for growth into Jesus' likeness simply do not exist in heaven. The time is now. And why is it so important? When we stand before Jesus at His Judgment Seat, our maturity will be assessed, and we will be assigned a position in His kingdom based on that assessment. Put another way, the evaluation of our growth here determines our eternal job there. Our growth, you see, is our capacity for Christ.
Your biggest thrill will come when you discover that with GOD—trying is winning! So the next time trouble strikes, you'll say. . .
PRAISE THE LORD!
C. S. Lovett
Copyright ©2025 Personal Christianity. All rights reserved.
TESTIMONIES
SHOWS HOW TO BATTLE: “Your book, DEALING WITH THE DEVIL, is a jewel. It is very valuable and practical. I like it because it shows a simple, yet useful way to battle with the devil. I consider this book very important to every Christian who desires to live a victorious Christian life. Thank you for writing it, thank you for testing it, and most of all, thank God for you!” (J.H.—AK).
DELIVERED FROM FEAR: “I have been filled with fear about something horrible is going to happen to me. I began to have dreams about it. My dear husband, suspecting Satan was behind my fears, sent for a copy of your DEALING WITH THE DEVIL book. I used the technique to take authority over Satan, and that was the end of my fears. If I do face the real thing, at least Satan won’t be able to terrorize me. I am so grateful for the help you’ve given me.” (Mrs. D. J.—KY)
CHANGED LIVES: “Your books are different from all others I’ve read. I have almost a complete set of your books and have read them all. I loan them to others and give them as gifts. They have changed my life completely, and they are shaping other lives. Praise to my Lord! He has answered the longing of my soul. I pray for you daily.” (R.O.—IN).
WAR MANUAL: “DEALING WITH THE DEVIL has been a tremendous help to me. It is just what I needed—a war manual to fight Satan in practical situations.” (Mrs. E. E.—MN)
RESOURCES
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON ROMANS (2024): 360 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99.
LOVETTS LIGHTS ON ACTS (2023): 407 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99.
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (2022) 372 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99.
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON JOHN (2021): 381 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99.
WITNESSING MADE EASY (2019): 213 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $14.99.
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL (2018): 242 PAGES. Available on Amazon.com for $14.99.
THE PREPARED LIFE (2017): 159 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $13.99 and is also available on Kindle for $7.99.
CONTACT US:
Please keep in touch and send us your prayer requests. You may contact us for more information regarding our ministry at:
Personal Christianity, PO Box 918, Middleton, ID 83644
626.338.7333
www.cslovettbooks.com
info@cslovettbooks.com
Preparing for His Appearing Since 1951
