GOD IS ALWAYS THERE! One does not need to live an extremely long life to know that life has its good side and its bad side. There are times when the sun shines deep into our souls. The blessings flow and life could not be any better. However, there are times when life is as hard as frozen ground on a January morning. There are times when storm clouds hover over our souls and blot out the shining face of God. It is the way of LIFE! We attribute our good fortune to God’s love and care. It is the times of suffering that cause us to think that God is no longer near us. At these times, we forget to express reverence and gratitude toward our loving Father. The reason for this is that when life is hard we tend to feel that God has forsaken us. The fact is that God is “with us” just as much when life is hard as He is when life is good. This fact is not negated because our feelings scream out otherwise. Therefore, we must discipline our feelings to maintain our faith in the face of hardship and doubt. We need not go down in defeat when life is bad. The apostle Paul seems to have suffered more bad days than good days. Yet, he could hold his head up. Hear his words; “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10) Being “afflicted in every way” does not defeat us. It may cause us to be “perplexed, but not driven to despair.” The message that Christ sent to the church in Smyrna was “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Job, whom God considered a perfect and upright man, understood that the responsibility of the righteous is to endure what life gives. “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10) If we accept that good comes from God, we dare not forsake Him when adversity overtakes us. What is the lesson we need to learn? The presence of adversity in our lives should strengthen our faith, not destroy it. It takes very little character to remain faithful when God’s blessings are radiating our way. However, when the darkness of suffering overshadows us, the righteous will continue to honor God and praise Him for His goodness. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) It is the trial of faith that makes faith strong. The excellence of faith does not shine forth until it has passed through the trial by fire. The next time you find yourself in various kinds of trials that test your faith, do not think that God is not with you. He is there holding you in His mighty arms whispering to you, “Hang in there, I am not going to leave you, it is going to be OK. This will pass!” If you are a Christian who is in the mist of a trial of faith, be still; God is with you. Find a quiet spot away from all the turmoil and noise of the world, then be quiet and listen. Hear Him whispering to you! Feel His mighty arms! See, He was there all the time holding you. Thank you Father for the times when we need You the most. Amen. THE POUND PROCLAIMER - Vol. 7 July 2013 No. 4
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:19:43 +0000
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