Saturday 11 December 2021

What you can learn from the crisis

“Do not be surprised at the furnace that is raging among you testing you, as if something strange is happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12

Difficulties never take God by surprise ! Everyone He uses seems to go from challenge to challenge. Listen to how Paul describes the Christian life : “Through all of our actions we prove that we are true servants of God. We endure with patience the worst problems, difficulties or calamities of any kind. We were beaten, thrown in jail, we had to face angry crowds, we worked to the end of our strength, went through sleepless nights and days without food. We also prove it by our moral purity, our understanding of others, our patience, our kindness, by the presence of the Spirit of God in us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. The power of God works in us. We use the weapons of justice both to attack and to defend ourselves. We serve God whether people honor us or ignore us, slander us or praise us. We are seen as impostors, yet always telling the truth. We are ignored although well known. We are close to death, but we are still alive. We were beaten but we were not killed. Our hearts are aching but we are always happy. We are poor but we offer spiritual riches to others. We have nothing and yet we have everything” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 Paraphrase“ The Message”). God never promised you a bed of roses for existence, but He will always stand by your side. He will lead you through the storm and make times of adversity an opportunity for growth. It is when your faith is tested in the furnace that the power and grace of God is most manifested to sustain you through trial. Jesus Himself had to learn the value of obedience through the trials He faced (Hebrews 5. 8). So rejoice, you are learning something important !

Source (His Word for Today)