Trust GOD, my friends, and always tell Him each one of
your concerns. GOD is our place of safety. PSALM 62:8 (CEV)
The children of GOD do not get a free pass for a life with
no letdowns, betrayals, fears, disappointments, hurts, pains, and losses.
However, being a child of GOD does give us an unmatched advantage over the
rest of the world – a promise from the Creator of the Universe that we will
never go through a dark valley without Him walking alongside us.
When suffering is more than we think we can bear, we wonder
if GOD no longer cares for us and has abandoned us. Never! GOD, the Omniscient
One, knows exactly where we are at all times and how we are suffering and is
right there in our vale of tears.
A child of GOD is never forgotten or abandoned. GOD’s WORD
assures us of that:
- The Lord’s people may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them safely through. Psalm 34:19
- We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, GOD is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9
- Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? Romans 8:35
No matter how dark the circumstances GOD is still the good
Father and a safe place for those who are His family in CHRIST.
Even so, we may well wonder and cry, why me? If GOD loved me that much as to send His One Son
to die for me, and if as promised my life
is now hidden in CHRIST, why aren’t I exempt from suffering?
Why do GOD’s children suffer?
While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But
cheer up! I (JESUS) have defeated the world. John 16:33
There is no easy or pat answer as to why believers suffer,
or why some suffer more than others, or why some never seem to suffer at all.
The life of a CHRIST follower is one of trust and faith in
the GOD who created us and orchestrated our salvation. We trust in His total
sovereignty and believe and have faith in His WORD and its promises.
GOD never promised that His children would miss the storms
of life. Just the opposite (JOHN
16:33); the Scripture tells us that we will suffer the same storms of life that
the rest of the world suffers but, unlike the rest of the world, our suffering
has divine purpose.
And we know that GOD causes all things to work together
for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to His
purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to
the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and
these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also
justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
GOD’s desire is that all His children become like CHRIST and
GOD will Himself ride out the storms with us to the very end to ensure that we get
to where He wants us.
We can struggle to hold on to these truths when days are
dark. That's when we need encouragement and help to restore our hope and faith, and GOD
helps us through these times. He becomes our Strength, and our Tower of safety
where we can rest (Proverbs
18:10). He transports His strength to us through His WORD, as well as through
Spirit-filled saints in the Body of Christ.
GOD comes alongside us and carries us until we can regain
our footing and are strong enough again in our faith walk.
Faith and hope can only be restored through GOD’s divine design.
The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us
comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same
comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ,
but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
We must never feel ashamed to seek and accept comfort and help from others
in the family of GOD when we become weak in our faith because of a dire trial.
GOD wants us to lean into the Family of GOD; He designed His family to meet each
other’s spiritual needs. Godly friends and mentors are there to offer comfort
and intercession for us when we are too spiritually fragile to help ourselves. At
some point in our lives we will get an opportunity to return the favor.
We must seek out those who are strong in faith as we are
weak, and have suffered as we are suffering. If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord’s followers
whose faith is weak. Romans 15:1.
Share
each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of CHRIST. Galatians 6:2
Prayer and reassurances of GOD’s truth spoken through the
Holy Spirit can lift our spirits, shine light in our darkness, change our focus,
remind us that GOD’s love still surrounds us and inspire us to keep moving
towards GOD. When we are strong enough again, we go to the Father on our
own behalf.
We ask the Holy Spirit of truth to guide our minds and thoughts as
we pray so we do not entertain any false truths about our suffering. We rebuke
fear and boldly take hold of GOD’s promised power and love; we thank our
Heavenly Father for being with us in the trial and for His strength to lean on as
we walk through it; and we pray all in the Name of JESUS CHRIST, the One who initiates and perfects our faith.
Until our present troubles are over, and for all time, we
put all our trust in GOD, because He alone is our safe place.
God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and
he is the fortress where I feel secure. Psalm 62:6
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we give all honor, glory and power to
You our GOD, full of grace and compassion. You invite us to bring all of our troubles
to you. You hear our every groan and You bring us comfort and hope. You give us
strength when we are unable to carry on, You remind us not to fear when we are
despairing of our circumstances because You are working all things out for our
eternal good and Your glory. Mighty Shepherd, we are the sheep of your pasture,
teach us to know your voice and believe your WORD and its promises which
nourishes our soul and never fail. All dominion and power belong to You for
ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in the Name of JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
