The Life Of A Believer: Hitch Free or Ridden With Difficulties
At odd times of the day or when I am conscious of my presence on the earth and the beauty of all of God's creation, I tell Him 'God, thank you for this earth you created, thank you for the gift of life and the privilege we have to journey through life with you'. I love the fact that we get to do life with God. At every single stage, whether as kids, teens, young adults or even seniors, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us and guiding us through.
Knowing how powerful God is and the amazing gift we have doing life with Him, you'd think we shouldn't have any issues, trials, inconveniences and whatnots because... I mean, we know God. smirks FALSE!!
Life itself is a long journey with many twists and turns. We will experience many emotions, laughter, tears, pain, anger, joy and through it all, God wants us to know that He is with us.
The sooner we prepare our minds for this reality the better prepared we will be when troubles come. It could be the loss of a loved one or sickness, unfair treatment. Really, it could be anything.
Sometimes I read some stories in the news and I wonder, 'God, why did this have to happen? Wasn't this person a believer? your son or daughter?'.
Yesterday, In my study time, I read 2 Corinthians 11-13 and I noticed apostle Paul, THE APOSTLE PAUL also didn't have it super easy in life, you'd think he would have had supernatural protection from it all.
I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[c] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
2 Corinthians 11: 23-29
Looking at all of his experiences, I don't envy him one little bit. And even in all this, he still loved and served the Lord. He didn't quit, saying 'If I'm going through all this it must mean that there is no God or He is not a good God'.
When I face a little injustice I'm quick to say 'ah God, I know you are watching me and you won't do anything, so much for being my defender '(lol) Paul was on Jesus' own assignment and he was locked in prison, beaten, shipwrecked, faced death many times. He literally endured many sufferings and in the end he said,
So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9
I love what God says in the book of Isaiah 43: 1-5
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia[a] and Seba in your place. 4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
Through it all, God is with us. So let us ENJOY doing life with God. Through the highs and the lows, the twists and the turns, let us go through every of these emotions with God trusting that He is with us every step of the way.
-TA