These things I have spoken to you, than in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.
Message: Adversity Leads to Glory
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: RC Sproul once remarked it is hard to be a Christian believing in a God you can't see. Yes, we have Jesus, the exact representation of God, but with God how do I trust in a God I cannot see.
In life, there are hard circumstances that come our way. For me these instances feel momentary, but I talk to many people that are suffering in these circumstances more than simply momentary, but sometimes lifelong. I suppose as I age, the adversities in how I feel start to increase. Like right now, my left side and my foot and my tennis elbow -- all of these things seem to be occurring more often. So I often understand why in church, most of the prayer requests are focused on those health matters.
This author of the article mentions Job. Job loses everything. And in response pours out his heart to God. I have been doing this more with Pamela. Most mornings, before I leave for work, going in and praying and my focus has been this - pouring my heart out to God for our kids. Praying often the same requests over and over. For my youngest son, the prayer has been somewhat the same for the past 9 years. It is a prayer that I keep praying - begging God, asking God to please send good people into his life, to break his heart of stone and break his will so that he surrenders to you God. I suppose it is a Job prayer. It is a prayer of lamenting and pouring my heart out to God.
And this type of praying or pleading to God must be somewhat intentional because Job is in our Bible and I think we approach the Bible and the books in it with intentionality not accident. Those books are in there because I need them in there and God wants them in there and so those prayers that are happening are correct. The hardships we experience in this life are not random, pointless events.
God listens. God hears. But God's reasons for these trials and tribulations is not always evident or clear. In today's verse in John is the confirmation that "In the world you will have tribulation."
Life is hard and we need each other. I need you. But the Bible also says, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thessalonians 5:18. So we need to do that. Say life is hard, we need to encourage one another and still I can give thanks.
In adversity therefore is not evidence that God is not there or absent but rather he is there. And suffering leads us closer to the day when we will be with him. And free totally in Christ, in God. We are following in Jesus' footsteps. And so in each day we take up that cross (Luke 9:23) and make the choice to take on this life for the hope of a future glory. Christ did not fail on the cross and so I will not fail. That cross while being about suffering is also about God's love. Yes, it is hidden at times but we must live in hope.
Prayer: God, I must admit, it is hard hearing about adversity being our life, but it does remind me that life here on this earth is hard. I notice myself all too often wanting to escape those hard moments. I hear it from my son - how can I work less and still have the money I need to survive. I am reminded of my friend in India and the number of hours he spends pleading and directing his requests to God for help. He is fulfilling his mission - trusting in God and going to God as Job did. His hope is in you God. Now provide for him and help him with what he needs. For the young man in Nigeria, remove pride from him and help me to have a trust in You. Lord, for my friend here struggling with illness, give him strength and help him to concentrate and get his tasks completed. Help his family and wife to show him appreciation. Pad him with encouragement. Help my kids to all know you and look to you and trust in You.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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