We all have struggles. They can be hurtful, confusing, scary, and maddening. There are struggles that make us feel like failures. Some of the struggles try to convince us that we let others sown, especially the Lord God. There ore physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual struggles. There are struggles with relationships, finances, and, well, struggles span a wide area. We are all touched by them, or lamblasted, more like it. We are going to have struggles in this world. Jesus frankly promises this in John 16:33. Here, read this:
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Yes, the Son of God has promised us that while we are on earth, we are going to have trials and sorrows. Sigh! But, let's read the rest of the verse. It says that we may have Peace in Jesus. It also says that Jesus has overcome the world. He is sinless, He defeated the enemy of our souls and death, and He rose from the dead. He is the Lord God!!!
Okay, now there are those who say that God causes our struggles. I'm not sure that can be true. One reason is that on earth, we have them. The trials and sorrows happen because we are in a fallen world. Our God doesn't fail, and He doesn't tempt us with evil. Here, read this in James 1:13- And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.
Our family is going through the Book of Job. We know that God allowed satan to attack Job and all he loved and owned. God had faith in Job. We can agree that the trials were many, but they weren't from God, and they were not caused because of Job's sins, even though his friends believed that God was punishing him. Nope, God allowed the trial to happen because God knew something about Job that Job didn't know. During Job's struggle, he didn't turn from the Lord. He asked questions, lots of them. But he kept believing in the Lord. God rewarded Job a great deal in the end.
Job 42:12- So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
Doesn't that sound familiar to a Christian's life? Yes, our struggles can hit an unbearable level. However, in the second half of our life, when we are home in heaven, our reward will be definitely more than in the beginning. Heaven in God's presence can't be topped. The point is while we are going through the struggles, our hope is in Christ alone, the One Who overcome the world. I pray that all of us may find the promised peace as we live in this world. Our peace is in Christ Jesus, the Author of our faith.
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
Yes, the Son of God has promised us that while we are on earth, we are going to have trials and sorrows. Sigh! But, let's read the rest of the verse. It says that we may have Peace in Jesus. It also says that Jesus has overcome the world. He is sinless, He defeated the enemy of our souls and death, and He rose from the dead. He is the Lord God!!!
Okay, now there are those who say that God causes our struggles. I'm not sure that can be true. One reason is that on earth, we have them. The trials and sorrows happen because we are in a fallen world. Our God doesn't fail, and He doesn't tempt us with evil. Here, read this in James 1:13- And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.
Our family is going through the Book of Job. We know that God allowed satan to attack Job and all he loved and owned. God had faith in Job. We can agree that the trials were many, but they weren't from God, and they were not caused because of Job's sins, even though his friends believed that God was punishing him. Nope, God allowed the trial to happen because God knew something about Job that Job didn't know. During Job's struggle, he didn't turn from the Lord. He asked questions, lots of them. But he kept believing in the Lord. God rewarded Job a great deal in the end.
Job 42:12- So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
Doesn't that sound familiar to a Christian's life? Yes, our struggles can hit an unbearable level. However, in the second half of our life, when we are home in heaven, our reward will be definitely more than in the beginning. Heaven in God's presence can't be topped. The point is while we are going through the struggles, our hope is in Christ alone, the One Who overcome the world. I pray that all of us may find the promised peace as we live in this world. Our peace is in Christ Jesus, the Author of our faith.
