Afflictions, trials, tribulations, disappointments, sickness or death *
Afflictions, trials, tribulations, disappointments, sickness....What we call "Bad" things, bad situations, bad people, EVEN bad family and friends, comes against us every day. They ALWAYS have, and they ALWAYS will in this life.
We live in a fallen world; stained by sin
All people born from Adam are sinners. And so we are all affected by the fall. Even those saved are not perfect.
1 Corinthians 10:13. It says:
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Remember, it was no different for Jesus or the twelve either. Jesus's VERY OWN brothers didn't recognize, or believe and went so far as to think He was crazy. It was only after His resurrection that his brother James believed.
Jesus already knows and knew all this and even warned us of this...
"Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." John 15:20
So please, do not be surprised if this world, the things of this world, it's people and the enemy and his many demonic forces, come against you, disappoint you, lets you down, and "afflicts" you.
Remember first of all, nothing can afflict us that God has not ALLOWED, as it is for a specific purpose.
These trials are meant to draw us closer to God, and drive us to the Scriptures for direction and confimort, and to prayer. Whether it is to strengthen us or correct us, it is always to bless us.
Believe it or not the STRONGER your conviction to God, and the more you begin to walk with Him, the more "afflictions" you are likely to experience. When you are not being "all in for" God, besides the struggles and suffering common to all men, the enemy can also need to come at you. When you are living for God and the enemy then attacks, and with what? Not flesh and blood, but... principalities and powers.
And when the enemy gets worried, afraid that not only will he lose his power over you, but, also fears that you will influence others for, and begin to lead others to God. THIS IS WHEN THE ENEMY COMES AT YOU WITH ALL HE HAS, he may have lost you, but if he can make you ineffective for God, his second best objective is met.
So, let us all try to begin react the RIGHT way when trials and tribulations come our way, let us forget the "pity party", the whining, and the complaining. Let us all Stand Firm and PRAISE Him all yhe way through it. He is not only "BY" our side, He IS INSIDE us IF we are a BELIEVER. He is with us always. The same power that RAISED Him to life is LIVING INSIDE YOU. That is a PROMISE repeatedly found in Scripture.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9:
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But this was that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Romans 5:3-5:
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9:
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
The triune God is always with us. And if by chance he leads us to death, we are simoly with him sooner than we thought.
2 Corinthians 5:8. It says:
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
All of the Apostles were killed, many are persecuted and die for simply having faith in Jesus. But if God allows it, so be it. We have eternal life, and do not fear man.
Luke 12:4-5: "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after the killing of the body, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Acts 5:29: "We must obey God rather than men."
Hebrews 13:6: "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'"
Let us REJOICE in our trials and tribulations, for by them are made strong and pure in our faith, by them do we KNOW where our help comes from.
"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2
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