SEASONS OF SUFFERING

There are times in our lives when everything we touch seems to prosper.  Our finances are liquid, we are in good health, our relationships are strong and flourishing, and blessings are plentiful and constant. Then there are those times when everything has gone awry. We live paycheck to paycheck with no relief in sight. Our bodies begin to betray us. Our relationships are turbulent and spiraling out of control, and blessings seem to be few and far between. Our struggles are real and sometimes we suffer.

No matter how loud we cry out, how sincerely we pray or how committed we are to serve, God will not move. He allows us to suffer through our circumstances. It is at these moments that we need to recognize God’s hand at work and know that His grace is sufficient (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). During these times God is doing a great work within us and we must humble ourselves and thoroughly depend on Him!

The Bible teaches us that things we see are temporary and those which are not are eternal (see 2 Corinthians 4:18). Our suffering is nothing compared to what Christ sacrificed on the cross for us; and though our suffering is real, it is temporary and it helps to build our faith and dependence on an all-knowing, all-powerful God. Our suffering also stands to show us the glory of a risen Savior; the temporary challenges of this life is nothing compared to an everlasting relationship with the God of all eternity.

So while we are going through our seasons of suffering, know that it is subject to change per God’s will and not ours.  While we are in this season we must not resort to rash and willful choices that are of our own doing but continue to seek God in all things. Remember that seeds of adversity produce fruit too, especially when we know that God will have the final say (see Romans 8:28).

Scripture: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV

Prayer: Father God, we are counting on you to restore life to our dreadful circumstances. Give us strength, patience, and wisdom to remain steadfast and focused on you while you work it out for us. We know that all things work for our good according to your purposes. Our faith is getting the workout it needs in order for us to trust you all the more. We thank you, love you, and praise your Holy Name! Lift us where we are down, and carry us when we are weak. Please forgive us for doubting your power to move on our behalf. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read 2 Corinthians 4 to witness how the glory of God can minimize the troubles we face.

NO TURNING BACK

We are born into sin by default. We live in a world that is permeated with sinful behavior. Even as righteous as we try to be- we sin, make mistakes, and screw up royally; we then ask for forgiveness and turn around and repeat the same behavior. It is a vicious cycle that continues until we come to an understanding of true repentance. But what does it mean to repent if it isn’t asking for God’s forgiveness?

Forgiveness is certain. Christ died on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven, and that covered all of our sins. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and personal savior, we received His grace and mercy. We can ask for forgiveness over and over again, and expect to receive it according to God’s word (see Luke 17:4). But repentance requires a change of heart, a changed mind and a change in behavior. Repentance means not having to seek forgiveness for a particular sin anymore; we have turned our backs on sin and headed in the opposite direction, towards a merciful God (see Acts 3:19).

Repentance means putting down the cigarettes and never smoking again. It means to quit going to the strip club every payday. It means to stop seeing someone's spouse. It means no longer using company resources for personal gain. It means no more cursing and using the Lord’s name in vain. It means abstaining from premarital sex. Repentance is going the right way down a one way street with no turning back.

Repentance is submitting those things in our lives that have us bound and turning them over to the power of the Blood of Jesus and trusting that our obedience will be blessed by Him. Totally surrendering our will to the will of God is the utmost expression of our repentance. Repentance is a call to our Savior to be faithful in sustaining us from temptation. God said in His word that temptation is common to man and He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). When we repent, we believe that God is going to uphold us when we are confronted with the sin that so easily ensnares.

True repentance is an act of faith, knowing that God promised to deliver us from evil. It means that we believe in God’s sacrifice and understand that it is His grace that sustains us (see 2 Corinthians 7:9-10). Forgiveness is automatic because of the loving sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross. There is nothing more we can do but accept it. But when we repent from our sins, we are telling God that we want to be closer to Him, and that we want nothing standing in the way of our relationship with Him. God and all of heaven rejoice when a sinner repents (see Luke 15:7). So stand on God’s promises, He is waiting to cheer us on!

Scripture:   …This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! Ezekiel 14:6 NIV

Prayer: Father God we stand before you with repentant hearts, not just asking for forgiveness of our sins but turning our lives around to embrace you and your word completely. We praise and exalt you for your grace and mercy. Please continue to protect us from evil and deliver us from those things that tempt us. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that our fleshly desires are weakened and destroyed. We pray that you will continue to guide us in the ways of righteousness and it is in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Read Acts 2: 14-41 to understand the significance of repentance.

WHY GOD? WHY?

It is a question that many have asked in the face of the worst tragedies: “What kind of God would allow this to happen and why?” The answer is simple in its complexity; a good, loving and merciful God that has given each of us a choice. We live in a sinful world that has succumbed to the temptation of the enemy. Satan is bent on destroying all of God’s creation; and we want to blame God for allowing it to happen. But we all have a choice and often our destinies are born out of the choices we make and the choices made by others around us.

Consider Adam, he had a choice to obey God’s command given directly to him and not eat from the tree, or give in to the temptation that was presented by Eve; he gave in (see Genesis 3:6). Perhaps had he known that his decision would be the initial fall of man and would usher sin into the world, he would have been more obedient to God. Man has suffered a similar fate every since that fateful day in the garden. We want to have all the comforts of living in the world but often we do not want to suffer the consequences of having these things. Not to say that we should not strive for betterment and enjoy our comforts, but we must count the cost that sometimes come with them.

Many of us are foolish enough to believe that if we live in a certain place, drive a particular car, send our children to the best schools, work at the premier company, or behave a certain way that we are safe and out of harm’s way. We have a tendency to equate status with safety and security, not realizing that these measures are imperfect and will remain as such because they are man-made. We fail to count the depravity of man; we are all born into sin and we live amongst people that choose not to be delivered from it. This is when we need to realize how merciful God really is to fallen man.

Though He did not promise us that we would not face difficulty and loss in life, God did promise us safety and comfort in HIM. God in His infinite wisdom knows how the enemy operates to destroy us, and He provided us with a safeguard against the sin in this world - CHRIST!  He embodies the goodness, grace and mercy of a loving God; and when we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we have victory over the evil in this world. So those of us that know how merciful and loving God is, we do not have to question and blame Him when atrocities occur. Instead we praise Him for His infinite power and knowledge that works on our behalf.  So instead of questioning, let us reflect:

•  Thank Him for the girl in training that kept getting the coffee order wrong on the morning the ten car pile-up occurred on the route to work.
• Praise Him for the sick child that kept you home the day that the gunman showed up and killed 12 co-workers.
• Honor Him because of the supervisor that switched your vacation making you miss the cruise that ended in disaster.
• Worship Him since He gave His only begotten Son that you may have eternal life and not a sure death.

The goodness of God will always prevail over the evil that is done in this world. Ask anyone that has had a near miss in their lives and they will testify to the righteousness of a merciful and loving God! If you don’t acknowledge God while things in your life are right and together, don’t try to blame Him when they begin to fall apart. So the next time you hear someone ask “Why God?” Just simply answer, “Why not God?” For He is the answer to all of our prayers.

Prayer: Father God thank you for being our source of comfort in the face of adversity. We honor you and praise your Holy Name that we are still here and able to worship you in spirit and in truth. You have delivered us from a multitude of mistakes, close calls and catastrophes, because you love us and your mercy endures forever. Lord, please forgive us when we question you, and give us the strength to hold on to our faith when we are faced with unbelievable obstacles. You are the Comforter, the Counselor, the Redeemer and the Savior that we all need in our lives on a daily basis, so thank you for all that you have done and all that you are. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read Daniel 3 to see how God delivers His children from insurmountable situations.

THE WONDERFUL WORD OF GOD

The Bible is held in some circles as the best book ever written; and it is often compared to the greatest literary works of all time. It contains all the elements that are characteristic of great storytelling; it is ripe with drama that includes murder, betrayal, romance, mystery and redemption. Yet, the book is written off as overrated and is considered a mere fairytale that has brainwashed millions of people.  But for those that have taken the time to really read and understand the Bible, they have walked away with life changing testimonies and a source for every spiritual need known to man. The Bible is the Word of God; an inspirational source of power that He created for us to be forever connected to Him. For centuries, man has relied upon God’s Word to navigate through this thing called life, and no matter how much man changes; God’s Word is infinite and infallible, even still.

Man has used countless excuses to justify his ignorance of the Bible:

• “Yeah well, how can I be a Christian when the Bible takes too long to read?"
• “Who can understand the Bible with all the ‘glory to thee’ and ‘thou art’?”
• “Am I really supposed to believe that Jesus walked on water and rose from the dead? How is that possible?”

The answer to those questions can be found in scripture:

• Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. John 3:3
• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Psalm 9:10
• Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

And when anyone else questions the validity of God, the Bible and Jesus, hit them with some more scripture to enlighten them:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It is unfortunate that many do not want to accept the truth found in God’s Word, because it readily reveals the inadequacy of man; and who wants to feel inadequate? No one does; but the truth of the matter is that we are inadequate without God in our lives, without His Word in our lives. The Bible is so deep that when studied, it reaches the heart and soul of man; and what it has to say about our behavior, beliefs and attitudes is life changing. The Bible could never be overrated because it is the Word of God and it equips us to function in a manner that is pleasing to Him. God alone is worthy of all honor and praise; it is our duty as believers to glorify His name and there is no overrating that!

Scripture: 

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NIV

Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Word! We praise you for having the wisdom, power, and loving kindness to bless us with instruction for use in our everyday lives. Forgive us for the times when we did not reverence your Word and please draw us nearer to it for guidance, reassurance, development, and protection. We honor you Lord, for who you are and all that you have done in our lives. You are worthy of all the glory and all the praise, and we love you with everything that you have placed in us.  Let your Word guide us and make us righteous in your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read the Bible! Pick it up and start somewhere, anywhere. Let the Holy Spirit lead you!

FAVOR AIN'T FAIR

25 Let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth’ 26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being. Job 33:25-26 NIV

Often times in the midst of our struggles we have a tendency to look at others and wonder how they got so blessed. Their marriages are on point, their children got it all together, they’re living well, they have great jobs, their health is intact and they seem at peace. Some people make life look easy.  So we wonder “how is it that I am falling apart at the seams? Why does God test me so, when other people are floating through life seemingly pain free?” Fret not my friend, because favor ain’t fair, and please believe that each of us has had a cross or two to bear.

Consider Hannah, she was married to a man that loved her; her first born was anointed by God and she birthed 5 children after him (1 Samuel 2:21).  Surely many looked upon her as favored by God, having been blessed with a righteous husband, 4 sons and 2 daughters. But what of her journey to be blessed as such… Year after year she watched as others bore sons, but never her. Hannah was barren and was humiliated by her inability to bear her husband a son (see 1 Samuel 1:6). However, she made her request known to the Lord and He heard her cries. Better yet, when she received her blessing, she willingly returned it unto the Lord with praise and thanksgiving (see 1 Samuel 2:1-10).

Instead of looking at people as if their lives are served up on a silver platter, take time to consider how that silver platter came to be. More than likely it was refined by fire, and in that heat the impurities were burned out in order to produce something that was appealing and worth admiring. The appeal of someone else’s life often makes ours seem that much harder, but just know that God created each of us uniquely for a purpose of His choosing. Do not be swayed because your silver platter seems tarnished and bent; a little more time in the fire and what is reflected will be pleasing to God, not just man.

Remember, God never promised us a rose garden; in fact He warned us that there will be thorns. Look at what Jesus went through to get the glory; it was worth it for Him to be able to save us all. Jesus was the Lamb led to slaughter for the benefit of all mankind. What Christ suffered on Calvary was treacherous and unimaginable, yet He was favored above all. Was it fair? Not so much, but the end result is that we can have everlasting life because of His sacrifice. This life here on earth will not always be fair, but by God we are blessed and highly favored. And His favor levels the playing field!

Prayer: Father thank you for the trials that brought us to our triumphs. We know that we are favored because we are your children and you promised that you would never leave us nor forsake us. Forgive us for looking upon others to measure our worth. Help us to remain focused on you and your Word and not on man. You are the Deliverer of countless blessings, the Conqueror of our biggest shortcoming and fears, and the Redeemer of all that was ever wrong within us. We thank you and praise you in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Read 1 Samuel to learn more about the favor of God.