Our prayer is that you recognize that no matter what you are experiencing right now in your life…God means it for good because at the very heart of it all, God loves you! So rejoice and be glad.
It is a truth that God allows his children to go through tough times for several reasons. First, tough times correct us. Sometimes we have to face the painful consequences of life so that we can repent and grow. Second, tough times also deepen us. It’s like a plant. The roots of the plant only get deeper if they don’t have water available on the surface. And deep roots make for strong plants. What is true for vegetation is also true of people. Third, tough times provide unique opportunities. The person going through a difficult time has a unique chance to demonstrate faithfulness. The person who is faithful in tough times speaks so much more effectively than the preacher in the pulpit. The fact that Paul kept preaching in spite of the beatings, stonings and imprisonments show that he really believed what he preached. And when you and I are faithful in tough times we show that we really do trust Him.
Down through the ages God has allowed his people to go through difficult times.
- Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son
- Joseph was sold into slavery and falsely convicted of a crime
- David was pursued in the wilderness
- Jeremiah was thrown in jail as a traitor
- Hosea’s wife deserted him
- Job lost everything
- The apostles were constantly thrown in jail and persecuted
Do you see how important this is to realize? Instead of cursing these times we should welcome them as “grad school experiences” in the school of faith. In the tough times of life we learn things we could never learn in the times of abundance.
Consider Moses and the Children of Israel as they approached the Red Sea.
Exodus 14:10-12 (NKJV)
And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. [11] Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? [12] Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Impossible Situations Should be Faced With Peace Instead of Panic!
Exodus 14:13-18 (NKJV)
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. [14] The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
[15] And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. [16] But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. [17] And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. [18] Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
When Times Are Difficult Do What He Commands And Watch Expectantly!
There are certainly times in our lives when we have no idea what God is doing. There are times when we feel abandoned and lost. But the child of God is never abandoned. Nothing will separate us from His love. No one or no thing can take us from His love. So, when we are backed into a corner we must keep doing what we know is right and then watch to see what God will do.
- keep telling the truth
- keep your commitments
- maintain your standard
- keep praying
- keep growing
- keep honoring Him with your life
In some situations this means,
- we keep making contacts for ministry and employment
- we keep trying to have children
- we keep doing our job
- we keep praying for that rebellious family member
That sounds very tough I know, but our job is to remain faithful . . . God’s job is to rescue us.
Try to imagine Moses as he lifted up his staff over the waters and wondered what God was going to do. Imagine the awe and the wonder as the waters miraculously parted and the wind blew the river bed dry so they could walk across it. Imagine the cautious first step of the people as they walked between the mountains of water and the broad smile when they reached the other side. Imagine the panic as they saw the Egyptians begin to follow them and then the wide eyes as the water washed away their enemies for good. Is it any wonder that they worshipped?
That’s what it’s like for those who dare to trust God. We walk by faith and wait to see what God will do. And when we patiently trust we find that we are led to worship and bow down before the God who is sufficient for our every need.
God is the sovereign Lord and majesty of the universe; therefore, He can do as He wills. He told Moses that He Himself was in charge of this event, not man. Pharaoh was not in charge, neither were Moses and the Israelites. God was in charge; He was in total control of all that was to happen. Thus the very demonstration of God’s sovereignty, of His control of the event, was to bring great glory to God.
We love you and thank God for you! God has us in His hand…we have in our hand…a promise: Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. And remember this: Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Keep listening for the voice!
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