“and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come to pass - as you well know.” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4)
We as believers are not going to escape trouble, trials, and temptations. If you do not already know this, I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you. To accept Christ does not mean we have an insurance policy against suffering.
God has never promised that we would miss any storms, but he helps us understand that we would all go through the storms that come up through our time on this earth. What is promised is that He will go with us through any storm that comes up.
If things are smooth and easy we tend to not be concerned about what is going on around us. We tend to look to ourselves and what we are doing to make things so smooth. But if we experience trouble and trial here, if we have the pressures and tensions of life, it is a sign that we are children of God. This is how God teaches us to rely on Him.
When things come up that make us scratch our head, when others attack and accuse us without thinking about what they are doing to God’s witness and testimony, we are to remember that God knows what is going on. That is what is most important. God will take care of things His way. We are to remain faithful to His Word and His plan. Let God go with us to deal with the problems and work it out His way to His glory.
There was once a congregation where the Pastor asked people for their favorite verses of Scripture. One man stood up and said his favorite verse is “would soon come to pass” then he quietly sat down. Everyone looked puzzled. How could that be his favorite passage? The man answered, “When I get in trouble, I turn to where it says, ‘it came to pass,’ and I know my troubles came to pass. They did not come to stay.”
What an excellent thought! Whatever storms, trials, and troubles we experience here did not come to stay. They came to pass. When we leave here and go into the loving arms of our Savior, we will finally be rid of all our troubles. Can there be anything better?
Hello Again!!
7 years ago
