Chapter 1: What hardships can Christians expect in life?
As Christians, we have not been promised a life free from hardships. We have not been promised a trouble-free life. On the contrary, God has promised to be our rescue. Now, hardship in life can come in many forms. And so long as you are living in this world, trouble and hardships are simply a part of life.
I would even say this is the case more so if you are a Christian, because Jesus said in John 15, verse 18-21, If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belong to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to this world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Remember what I told you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. As children of God, we should be believing that God is good.
We should still be saying God is good even when things are not so good for us. Our trials are temporary. Our difficulties don't last forever. The Bible tells us that we should be joyful in all circumstances. And not just that, but we should hold on to Jesus even more tightly when we are in distress.
I would go as far as to say, the deeper you're in distress, the deeper your trust in Jesus Christ should be. The more fiery your problems seem to be, the more on fire for God you need to be. If it's painful, you should be prayerful. If it's agonizing, you should be even more prayerful. The rockier life seems to be, the steadier your faith in Jesus Christ should be.
Now, of course, putting this in practice isn't easy. It requires maturity. It requires faith. And it most definitely requires the Holy Spirit. But once you've been through some things, once you've faced enough battles, then you don't just memorize certain scriptures. You begin to live them. You begin to so desperately hold on to them.
And one of those scriptures is Proverbs chapter three, verse five to six. And listen to this. Here's what it says. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. That means that if you are feeling crushed with disappointment, then you trust in the Lord with all your heart
If you thought this was the person God intended for you to marry, but they walked away from you, then continue to lean not on your own understanding, but to trust in the Lord with all your heart. If you prepared, you studied, you met all the criteria required for that job, for that position, but they rejected you, Well, child of God, lean not on your own understanding.
God will direct your paths. This is what all believers are called to do. So, no matter what comes, keep believing in Jesus Christ. No matter what comes, remain anchored in the One who rose from the dead. No matter what comes, do not, I repeat, do not give up. Hold on to Jesus because when you are weak, he is strong. So use his strength. Use his might. No matter what comes your way.
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Chapter 2: How can we find joy during difficult times?
And should you face the hardships of life, should you encounter the many afflictions that we all face in life, then we have a promise to hold on to. And that promise is that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Regardless of the type of trouble you face or the form it comes in, so long as you are in the Lord, you will overcome.
Should you need healing, submit to the Lord's will. And if you receive healing, that's wonderful. If you don't, then do not be disheartened because perhaps there is a purpose for you to go through what you're going through. Have an attitude that says, Lord, whatever your decision may be, I'm going to trust in you. May your will be done. May your will take precedence over my life.
Healing is something that we all need in our lives. Physical healing, emotional healing, or mental healing. Whatever it may be, Jesus Christ still heals today. He still makes people whole today. Jesus Christ still mends broken hearts. He can divinely rehabilitate you. He can revive the dead things in your life. Jesus Christ can soothe every painful scar in your life. He is the master physician.
He's a chief doctor who is able to treat every visible and invisible wound in your life. But here's the key. Here's the key for us. We have to be submitted to his will. Praise him if he heals you in a sudden and miraculous way. But also praise him if he doesn't heal you. but instead gives you the grace and strength to endure, the grace and strength to keep going.
Regardless, put the Lord's will above your will.
The Amplified Translation for Romans 10 verse 3 says, "...for not knowing about God's righteousness, which is based on faith, and seeking to establish their own righteousness based on works, they did not submit to God's righteousness." Consider the following question. Are you righteous in word? Are you righteous in thought? Are you righteous in your deeds and motives?
To put it another way, do your words reflect Jesus Christ? Do your thoughts reflect Jesus Christ? Are your deeds and motives reflective of Jesus Christ? If you find that your answers to these questions are no, then it's time to repent and remove the hindrances.
When we are correctly positioned in Christ as the righteousness of God, we can have the confidence to present our troubles to Him and await deliverance. No, I want you to also be aware that being in Christ and chasing righteousness, that does not make you immune from troubles because the scripture says in Job 14 verse 1, man who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
When I read this, it hits home. These troubles spoken of are the troubles that God is saying, bring to me and I will help you. These are the troubles that God is saying, bring to me and I will help deliver you. As long as you're in your rightful standing, you will see the hand of God deliver you.
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Chapter 3: What does the Bible say about trusting God in trials?
You have been bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. There ain't a devil that can break you. There isn't a situation that can break you. Because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
Thank you.