I remember distinctly before I got saved someone ‘witnessing’ to me told me that if I would get saved all my problems would go away and I would never have a problem again. But even as an ‘ignorant, old sinner’ I knew that sounded wrong. It is so wrong to tell someone anything like that or any number of things as some kind of hook or lure thinking it is OK to tell them this kind of stuff just to try to ‘win someone to the Lord’. The end does not justify the means. I can tell you from experience, when you become a Christian, it does NOT make you immune from trouble, trials, temptation or tribulation. Jesus himself said right from the start, “In this world you WILL have tribulation” but He didn’t leave it there, he went on to say, “Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “Now, hold on! Are you saying that as a Christian I am doomed to a lifetime of misery?” Oh no, no, no. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory….even in the midst of trials and tribulation, How is that possible? Let’s find out.
How would it change your outlook on life if you knew that the one and only. almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God was going to make sure that everything turned out all right?
Well, guess what? It’s true! The creator of all things and the one who has the last word in all things has your back and is looking out for you! You don’t believe it? Read Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” And how about Romans 8:28-32, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
I don’t know about you, but I had some pretty messed-up teaching when I was coming up in church. All I ever knew was a God of wrath that was just waiting for the right moment to judge me and send me to Hell. It wasn’t until the past few years that I really have got to know a God who truly loves me and has the best in mind for me. Verses like these tell me He is a God of love and mercy: Psalms 34:8 tells me blessed is the man that trusts in Him. Psalms 84:11 tells me no good thing will He withhold from me as I walk uprightly. Psalms 135:3 declares He is good! Psalms 145:9 says He is good to everyone and His tender mercies are over all His works. Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes me truly rich and He adds no sorrow with it. Jeremiah 33:11 The Lord is good and His mercy, tender kindness and steadfast love endure forever. Luke 12:32 It is His good pleasure to give me the kingdom. Philippians 4:19 My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory. And the list goes on! He is a good father and knows how to give good gifts to us (Matthew 7:9-11).
In this life you may or may not face hard times; more than likely, you will.
That is what it comes down to when you boil it all down. In this life you may or may not face some hard times; more than likely, you will, but your perception of God is going to get you through whatever it is you are going through. Life is just life sometimes. Everything isn’t caused by God or the devil. Sometimes things happen in life that we can’t possibly understand and if our reaction is , “why, God, why?’ we are only going to get more frustrated, fearful, worried and distressed. The more important question is, “What are you going to do about it when it happens?” You can curse and blame God. You can get depressed. You could take drugs or drink yourself into a stupor. But are any of those things really going to help? I think you know the answer to that; it will only make things worse.
We are like sponges. Whenever we are squeezed whatever is in us comes out.
Sometimes God allows us to be squeezed so He can show us what is in us. Sometimes there is stuff in there that needs to come out. We need to get so much of God in us that when we are squeezed only God comes out of us…only victory comes out of us…only rejoicing comes out of us.
What is the right thing to do? Trust in the Lord. I didn’t say it would be easy, but it is the only thing that will help. It is the only way out. It is the only way to have some semblance of peace in the midst of the storm. This is what is meant by having a peace that passes all understanding (Phillipians 4:7). It makes no sense to have peace and even joy in the midst of tribulation. How dare James say, “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations?” But he goes on to explain what will happen if you do: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. “ (James 1:2-4). I knew a lady once that was going through a divorce, lost her dad and her stepdad, they were foreclosing on her land and she was about to lose her job and yet she rejoiced, knowing God has his hand on her life and He will accomplish something good out of it in her life. When I had cancer God gave me such a supernatural peace through it all to let me know he was with me. That’s what I’m talking about! Only a child of God could have joy and hope in circumstances like that. Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. “ Let us understand this thing called ‘joy’. Joy and happiness are two different things. I have happiness only when things are going my way. Joy is something I can have even in the midst of trials. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). The enemy doesn’t take your stuff because he wants your stuff. He wants your joy. He knows if he can get you down he can have his way with you. Don’t give place to the devil. You give him an inch and he will be a ruler.
The difference between tempting and testing
So does God cause these things so we will fall. No God does not tempt us. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. “ (James 1:13-14). Does God test us? I would say that He does sometimes. He tested Abraham (Genesis 22). But God knows if we can handle it. He doesn’t test us above what we can bear and He promises to make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Most of the time He allows a circumstance to try us so we can learn something about ourselves that He already knows. Sometimes he is revealing a weakness in us that He wants us to know about. Remember always, he has your best in mind.
Read about Joseph (Genesis 37-45). Here was a boy in his father’s favor. He even made him a coat of many colors. His brothers were jealous. Then Joseph started having dreams where his family bowed down to him. His brothers got so mad they sold him into slavery. He ended up in Egypt in Potiphar’s house and found favor with Potiphar and still did pretty well for himself. Then Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him and he stayed true to his master but he didn’t believe him and cast him into prison. While in prison he interpreted a dream for someone. Word got to the Pharoah who had a dream he wanted the interpretation of. Joseph translated the dream and Pharoah was so impressed he made him second only to him in the kingdom. Joseph saw a seven-year famine coming in Pharoah’s dream and laid up seven years’ worth of food for when the famine came. The famine was so vast that people from other nations came to Egypt for food, including his brothers. When they stood before Joseph they did not recognize him. After Joseph testing them a little he revealed himself to them and said something very profound we all can learn from. He basically said, “What you did you meant for evil but God has meant it for good” (Genesis 45). That boy went through a lot. He had days in prison that he could not understand but when that day came and he was able to save his family from starving and give them the best land he knew God used his circumstances to provide for him and his family. Did God plan it that way from the beginning? Maybe He did and maybe He just turned his brother’s bad choices into something good. What matters is that God loved Joseph and his family so much that He turned a bad situation into something good. No matter what you are going through let God turn it into something good. Learn what you can learn from it. Become stronger in the midst of it. Determine yourself that it will not destroy you. Seek God’s will in the situation. Follow His direction. You will get through it. He has already promised you would. (1 Corinthians 10:13).
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