Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Becoming a follower of Christ does not make us immune to life’s trials and tribulations.
Though we often find ourself asking God these questions:
- What are you doing God?
- Where are you?
- Why have you left me?
- Why are you allowing this to happen?
- Surely, if you love me, you wouldn’t allow me to suffer this way?
- Since you love me, doesn’t that mean you want my life, to be easy and comfortable?
That would be a Big NO, it doesn’t
I don’t know about your Bible, but mine does NOT promise us an easy life, free of pain and suffering.
However, God loves us, and it DOES Promise us “God works all things together for our good”(Romans 8:28).
The trials and tribulations God allows in our lives is a gift to us.
It doesn’t feel good by any means, it hurts, and it’s hard, but he is teaching us something, and he wants us to draw closer to him through them.
As my Pastor stated, “Only in the Storms of life, can we fully see Jesus’ sustaining mercy?
But everything in us, wants Jesus to keep us from them.
But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Some things we will only understand, while we are going through, the most difficult of times.
They teach us what we are truly made of, and what we put our faith in.
During these times, we often feel as though Jesus has left us.
When we need God the most, why does it feel like, he’s hundreds of miles away from us?
Friends let me speak truth to your heart.
Jesus IS there.
He’s always there, no matter what we are going through.
He is sitting at the right hand of God, Praying for us, and interceding for us. (Romans 8:34).
Most often during our most difficult of storms, we tend to bury ourselves in something or anything, other than Jesus, to get us through them.
Who or What is your “functional savior?
- Do you tend to run to food?
- Do you seek the pity of others?
- Do you lash out at the ones you love most?
- Do you seek the acceptance of someone?
- Do you seek a person to validate, how you should and shouldn’t be tested?
- Do you use your children or spouse, to fill that void you feel?
The point I am getting at is, these things are not necessarily a bad thing, but they will NOT sustain you.
Only Jesus Christ will and can sustain you.
All these other things will not, no matter how much you want them too.
Here are a couple of reasons why we can find ourselves in a storm
- Disobedience due to us not following the will of God.
- It can be due to a Sin we committed, therefore we must wreak the consequence of our action.
- It can also be from Obedience, which God allows hardship in your life, so you can help others.
- As a result, whatever difficulty, challenge, or suffering, you may be going through, can be used to show the fullness of God’s Glory through you.
Paul writes, “God comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort). (2 Corinthians 1: 4-7).
It seems that when we facing a storm, we want everyone to stop, and think about us. We think that we need to be cared for and encouraged. But the reality is when we are going through storms of life if we would reach out to someone else, our soul will be replenished.
Jesus said, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).
God is ALWAYS Worthy of our Praise
We should be Praising our Heavenly Father when everything is going right, but we should also be willing, to give him our Worship, even more, when everything is falling apart.
When you raise your hands in surrender of Praise, it releases all those burdens, you feel pressing down on you.
Try it yourself, if you don’t believe, what I say is the truth.
God is in control of our life, and he allows storms to come our way, in order to strengthen us spiritually and make us more like Jesus.
He uses these hardships to chip off our rebelliousness and pride, to mold us into Christ’s character.
This is God’s way to refine us as individuals and bind us together, as his children.
And so when NOT IF, we encounter suffering, how should we respond?
We should accept that it’s God’s plan for us
We should take heart that he is using it for our good, making us more like His Son.
We should NOT be bitter about it, but know he’s using it to change us.
We should be open and honest, and be willing, to let it be used, to bring Glory to God.
And if at all possible, let us rejoice in our sufferings.
Trust me, it’s not easy to say, let us rejoice in our sufferings.
If you have watched, My Health Journey video, you are aware of my medical standing.
I have had more to add since recording it.
It seems, every time I turn around, they’re discovering another “issue” wrong with me.
I could choose, to let it get me down, but I try my best, NOT to let it define me, or who I am.
I’m going, to be honest.
I have asked God, more than once.
Please put the brakes on.
Haven’t I had enough now Lord?
But I have finally come to a point, that you know what, God knows what he’s doing.
He’s God and I am not.
I can’t see the “Big Picture” and he can.
In Closing
I’m not aware, of whom I may be in contact with, that it’s inspiring.
All I know is, I want to hear one day soon…WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! Don’t You?
Much Love,
Your Sister in Christ
Angie
Hey Friends. Thank you for taking time out of your day, to spend a few moments in mine. As a follower of Jesus Christ, it’s important to me to share the gospel with you. I write about my ups and downs, my struggles and insecurities, but above all else, I share how God brings me through it all. Let’s continue our walk with Christ together.
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