How NOT to give up, when problems and trials are all around II
I am glad to welcome each one of you to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”!
Yesterday we started talking about how not to give up, when problems and trials are all around us. Today we are going to continue about it and I would like to share with you where we can find the strength for it.
In order for us not to give up when dealing with hardships and challenges we must know that problems are a common thing and a part of life. Nobody is secured against them no matter how big your love for God is. If you think that you are the only one with problems and the others don’t have any, then you set yourself up for failure. Here is what the Word of God says about it: «Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter» (1 Peter, 4: 12-16).
The Bible clearly talks about temptations, sorrows and suffering being a regular part of life and not to be considered as something strange. You mustn’t wonder why these things come into your life. In Paul’s letter to Timothy it says, «…persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me in Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all them Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution» (2 Timothy, 3: 11-12).
As you see, Paul did not consider it strange when different afflictions, persecutions, hardships and slandering happened to him. He knew that all these things are common so he prepared for them. It is no surprise that in all these afflictions Paul could speak of victory, «… out of them all the Lord delivered me».
If a person understands that temptations are inevitable, then he begins to arm himself with all the necessary weapons that help him to overcome these temptations. God is obliged to give victory to such a person. That is why Paul reminds his spiritual son Timothy about the fact that afflictions and temptations are inevitable and it is necessary for a person to prepare himself to overcome these temptations.
Today God desires to remind every one of us that hardships and tests are inevitable in this world and in the life of every person so that we can prepare ourselves and be ready to overcome them. I wish you to win many victories in this life.
God bless you!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye
