God, in all His wisdom, has a purpose for our pain, a reason for our suffering, a path for our struggles, and a gift for our steadfast faithfulness. "Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on you own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your path straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) NIV. This is a cup that we must drink from...the same cup of the Lord's if we are to follow Him. "You don't know what you are asking." Jesus said, "can you drink from the cup that I drink or be baptized with? Jesus said to them, you WILL drink from the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with..." (Mark 10:38-39) NIV. Jesus is speaking to His disciples and telling them the cost of following Him. They drank from His cup and sacrificed their very lives. The student is not above his master. We should all understand, and not be troubled or dismayed in our sufferings. Our Lord did not question His Father's Will or wisdom in this, but accepted it all. And so should we. He set the example of our lives Himself. Peter also reminds us of this in his word's: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12) NIV. These should be word's of encouragement to us in these times of unexplained pain and struggles. Not living in doubt and fear or questioning His purpose and path that He has set before each of us. When these things occur in our lives, and He said that they will, stay strong in His Word and trust in Him. Do not fall back into the weakness of the flesh and of the world and doubt His Word; turn our backs on Him; and even walk away from Him because we don't understand His Word. Or think that you have done something wrong to deserve this, or think He is not hearing or answering our prayers. Recognize that these are a result of the old and dead flesh, and false counsel of the world. A direct attack of the enemy to get us to doubt God and His Word. He will tell us that God has abandoned us; we have sinned and are being punished; He is not faithful to His Word...His Word is a lie! God has given us a free will and a choice in how to spend our time, energy, and resources. We can wallow in self-pity, doubt, and frustrations. Which will lead to fear, stress, and anxiety, or accept His Word and purpose in our lives. He has given each believer a path to follow. We can choose to follow it, or take another path away from Him. We can choose to walk that hard road, or go the easy path, which is sitting on the fence and being lukewarm. Not making a full commitment to Him. Wanting and expecting things from both sides of the fence...being a Christian but still having everything we want without pain and suffering. "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelations 3:16). Choosing to follow the Lord and truly making Him 'Lord' of our lives is going to be filled with hard times. Because we stand against the world and the enemy. Our lives will never be a fairy-tale life. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34) NIV. Accept His Word in this and be at peace in Him at all times. "And the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, shall guard you hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7). My prayer is for each of us to stand strong in Him and not be shakened. To understand that we MUST go through these times of testing, trials, and suffering. When these things take place in our lives, seek His counsel...His Will for us. He will show us. He will never leave us or abandon His children.Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Revelations 21:4 " He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
2 Timothy 3:12 "Indeed. ALL who desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Everything that happens in our lives as believers, has the end result for us to be conformed by God into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. This is our Fathers Will for each of us. The one absolute I firmly believe in, and will say over and over again, is that the Lord's Will for each of us is greater than anything we can ask for, seek, or desire. All that He asks of us is to have faith and trust in Him.
