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The Christian will have difficult days. We live in a world where sin abounds. Many times we get caught up in it. Our loved ones are entrapped in sinful situations. Perhaps it is a matter not involving sin. The natural things like sickness, loss of jobs or death to a loved one give us grief. I will hasten to say that when sin is involved that the grief is much h greater. Sin is so destructive. It never stops but snowballs until it is repented of and then there are the consequences. Sin is so costly. The little pleasure that comes from sin is not worth the cost. The Christian is not like the world. He has not served his God for naught. We have a God who cares and is grieved when we grieve. Our grief does not compare to the deep sorrow God has for one of his own when they are in sin or sorrow. Does Jesus care when my heart is pained? Too deeply for mirth or song, As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
O yes He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
When adversity comes there are some very practical things that we can do. Our God has not left us without help. Christianity is a very practical religion and it works if we work it. Here are a few things listed that will help. CONSIDER YOUR WAYS The Preacher, Solomon said: “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider ..........” (Ecc.7:14) Could it be that I am involved in a sin that I am not aware of? Haggai the prophet told the Jews long ago, “Consider your ways”. Have I been so puffed up and proud that I have drifted in some degree to the ways of the world? Have I blinded myself? Have I compromised the truth? Do I not see myself as God sees me? David, the singer said it like this, “Search me O God and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. (Psa.139: 23, 24) If there is sin in my life, then I must not delay but quickly repent. Let me remember... “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but he that confesseth
and forsaketh them shall find mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
READ GOD’S WORD
There is so much power in God’s word. When we read and wait upon the Lord,
our strength will be renewed. David said, “Trouble and anguish have taken
hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights” (Psa.119:143). Again
he said “Unless the law had been my delights I should have perished in
mine affliction” (Psa 119:92) “When my heart is overwhelmed:
lead me to the rock that is higher than” (Psa.62:2). He suffered much at
the hands of Saul before he became king. This suffering was not because
of sin on his part. Later he did sin greatly. He suffered the consequences,
and leaned upon God’s word. “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation
all the day” (Psa.119:97).
PRAY Probably the Christian will pray first before doing anything else when bad news comes. Or it could be that his heart will be so faint that he does not have the strength to pray. (This is where Satan would like to have us and keep us, in a prayer less state, totally without help). If we are that faint and weak, then this is one reason for reading God’s word before prayer. We will be strengthened after taking His word into our heart. Our attitude will be more receptive to His will. Our prayer will be a more fervent prayer, a prayer of faith. Jesus is our model in this. When He faced any decision or adversity, He prayed. (Lk. 5:16; 6:12). Several times it is recorded that He continued all night is prayer. Before His crucifixion, He made strong cries to God (Jn.: 17). “Call upon me in the day of trouble: and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psa 50:15). God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear,” (Psa: 46:1-2). We feel we can do without prayer; our lives speak these words because we do not pray. Jesus needed to commune with God to withstand the temptations and suffering He faced. Are we stronger than Jesus? The early Christians prayed often, especially when facing the threatening of the people. (Acts 4:24) If we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will lift us up (1Pet.5: 6).
We rely too much on ourselves and not on God. We must be “prayer warriors”.
Jesus said that men ought always to pray and not to faint. He tells the
story of the “importunate widow” who continually went to the unjust judge
to be avenged of her adversary. The unjust judge finally gave her the request
because of her “continual coming”. Jesus then said, “And shall not God
avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear
long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily” (Lk.18:
7, 8). James says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much” (James 5:16). This is where we fail many times; we give up and forget
after awhile. Let us not go weary in this matter of prayer! Let us thank
God for this avenue of prayer, that we can have help in the time of need.
We serve a mighty God! Praise His name!!
Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus. Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus. He is a friend that's well known. You have no other such a friend or brother.
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Adversity Can Strengthen
“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It
is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes”
(Psa.119: 66, 71). Peter tells us that after suffering God will make us
perfect (complete) stablish, strengthen and settle us. (1 Pet. 2:23) He
says that trials will refine our faith, that we should take it patiently
and this will please God. James also tells us of the good that comes from
trials, it works patience. (James 1; 3) Jesus said in your patience possess
ye your souls. (Lk 21:19) Jesus was sinless; “though He were a son, yet
learned He obedience by the things He suffered” (Heb.5:8). Suffering is
difficult, not something we choose, but there are rewards. Our faith will
be stronger when we can stand the storm of trials. “Wherefore let them
that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls
to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1Pet. 5:19).
Praise and Count Your Blessings When we are distraught and the situation looks hopeless, let us not focus on the situation. Let us praise God for His wonderful things He has done. We serve a holy God. We can always find things to praise Him for. “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men”. This is stated 4 times in Psa. 89. There is power in praise. The power lifts us up above our problems. Paul and Silas sang praises in prison. (Acts 16) David recounted what God had done for him and God’s people many times
in the Psalms. We need to recount what God has done for us. The good that
He has done far outweighs the ill things that happen to us.
Let Our Christian Brethren Comfort Us
God has given us one another to comfort one another. “ Blessed be God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the
God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith
we ourselves are comforted of God” (II Cor.1:3,4). WE can go to our earthly
friend and brother, but let us make sure that we go to our best friend
first, Jesus. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, this
is Jesus.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives
Keep Doing God’s Will When sorrows and disappointments come, we might falter. We might feel as though we have had the wind knocked out of us for a time. We are human, but remember “stronger is He who is in you than he that is in the world”. We can rise up again with God’s help. We must not allow this trial to stop us from doing God’s work. This is what Satan desires, to stop all activity that would hinder him. Visiting the sick, encouraging the weak. Teaching the gospel must not cease in our lives. Instead we must try to work even harder. We can overcome Satan by the power of God. “We will reap if we faint not”. Many people drop out of the race in times of trial. “Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb.12:35-39). Some will take up meaningless tasks to busy their mind to be able to forget the problem. Some take extended vacations. Is this wise? Rest is needful. Withdrawal is needful, but only for a time to draw closer to the Lord. We will be careful to not judge here, some may need more time than others to regain their strength. Others might need to be encouraged to go away and rest for a while.
“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. To Him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Rev.2: 10;
3:21).
Wilma Hendrick
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