Faith Triumphs inTrouble
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
“…into this grace in which we stand,”
To stand is so important. How many women hate themselves the day after because they gave into the pressure of the boyfriend, or the man who can no longer look his wife in the eyes because he compromised their marriage vows, or the young person who feels crabby because he or she gave into peer pressure. We do these things because of our insecurity and fear. We worry that they, or he, or she may leave us if we don’t go along with them. However, afterwards our self esteem is even lower. The ability to stand for our convictions and the strength to endure the consequences is so critical to our self esteem and to a successful future.
The most important person we have to live with is the Lord. If I can’t live with Him because I continually say yes to my lusts or to the peer pressure, then in spite of His Grace an empty and frustrated soul awaits me. I will not be happy with myself or with life in general and further wrong decisions are easily made in this state. And these wrong decisions can turn low self esteem into self hatred that eventually bleeds into every part of our life. Self hatred can become as an oppressive weight that we drag around wherever we go. It’s like a heavy darkness we wake to. Its just not worth it, it is much better to stay on course with The Lord and though it can be difficult, the fruit of being faithful produces great rewards. A positive and can do self image with gratitude towards the Lord is only one benefit and it becomes easier as we mature in our faith – promise.
And remember No, is a beautiful word when it is said in order to please
The Lord. By saying no we maintain our fellowship, our “spiritual umbilical cord to LIFE,” which we all so desperately need. No one person or thing or action is ever worth severing that. Christ Jesus is the perfect lover of our soul and the perfect fit for every occasion. It’s His Grace given to us which makes life worth living, Amen?
“and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“
I grew up with a saying that said “don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.” I understood what my dad was trying to say because I knew my dad’s experiences grewing up. He saw a lot of hypocrisy in the church which he equated to a walk of faith. We will always have the “pretend” Christians and to the unbeliever they represent Christianity, which is very unfortunate. However the divide between real and fake is found in this verse. How often when I am struggling with life I draw strength from the return of Christ; be that I see Him or He sees me, I know my end and I rejoice in it. This renewed perspective gives me the strength to see my trials through. To see His Glory will be unimaginable, but also to see His Glory in me as He continues to sanctify my soul bringing me closer to Him is something that we can rejoice in.
How about you, I hope you can say the same and if not then let this be an early indication of something not quite right. As believers we should always rejoice in the return of Christ, nothing should be of a greater want or value. Pray that your faith grows as you make effort to meditate on God’s Word. Some of my favorite chapters are Psalm 37, Proverbs 3, Joshua 1, Psalms 119, 55, and 51, Romans chapters 6- 8 and the book of Ephesians and Philippians. These books and chapters have become faith builders and points of strength in my life as I look back and remember the difficulties I was going through. Please give thought to what we’ve said and be willing to make a course correction if needed. Your life could depend on it. Now for our next supporting verses.
Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
A merry heart comes from God’s love abiding in our heart, and it is powerful and life changing. It comes as we continually sit before Him allowing Him to change, mold and take away all that displeases Him in us. Talking about being real, there is nothing hid from His view. But we are safe with Him, sometimes given the heartache and the pain it doesn’t feel like that, but I’m sure having cancer removed from your body doesn’t feel good either, but it has to be done. It’s no different with the Lord, the only difference is it is for eternity. Now our next verse.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Nothing makes our faith more real or reveals the lack of it than times of trail. As the saying goes, “it’s where the rubber meets the road.” We either have traction or we slip and slide over the pavement of life. Tribulations or trials as we call them, can be numerous and varied. They can be work or family related, or internal – fears, insecurities, lusts etc. They can physical in nature, sicknesses, disabilities or just age related be it us or people we love, and they can be financial etc. And it always seems like when it rains it pours. Health, finances, and work issues can come up all at once, or health remains a concern, work improves then family concerns come up. And then there are those people who always appear to have the “perfect” life. Their kids are succeeding in their careers, and or school, their health is good and financially they have the means and time to take vacations.
And is this not the life we all seek, but is it the life that grows our faith? Is this “perfect” life the life that causes us to really seek the Lord, to study the scriptures, putting the importance of our faith in the forefront of our life? I think not, desperation and need causes this, an easy life doesn’t. I am not speaking of constant problems for the scriptures promise that a righteous life has its inherit blessings, but I am referring to a life that is not plateaued. King David’s life had plateaued, all his enemies were conquered or not a current threat. He was older and settled as King and all was very, very good, and then he saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof top. He knew that she was wife to one of his mighty men and granddaughter to one of his closest advisors. Yet that didn’t stop him and that one break in his armor cost him untold heartache. It was not worth it.
In sailing terms I would liken an plateaued emotional state to the sailing challenges around the equator, or called the droldrums. It is the worse place to sail, everything with respect to weather is too unpredictable. From many, many days of no wind to a sudden storm and then light winds that come and go making tacking very difficult.
However north or south of the equator the weather comes to life. We have highs and lows producing different velocities of steady winds causing us to respond in like fashion. These variances when sailing cause us to put our body, mind and soul to the test. In like fashion the storms in life challenge us putting our faith to the test as well as causing us to appreciate the sunny days. Without these changes and challenges we become very shallow believers because we don’t need the Lord, we can handle life ourselves. Our Bible begins to collect dust as we go days, weeks, even months without reading while in through the backdoor creeps in worldliness. Our Bathsheba’s be they sexual or any of a multitude of lusts and desires. Maybe we want a bigger nicer home, or a nicer car which in themselves are not wrong, but what is the motive for doing it? To make us feel better about ourselves? I thought that was God’s job and seriously how long do think that good feeling will last? And because of these decisions are we now financially tight and need to cut back on our tithing?And does our church attendance begin to falter as the importance of attending church lessens?
Soon, and before we know it we look more like the world than sons and daughters of Christ and find ourselves being rebuked by God Himself,
Revelation 3:15-19
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked ( that’s God’s perspective) ….. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
I was nineteen years old when I first heard this verse and it cut me to the heart. I knew that I was walking the fence and I was faced with a decision, yield to the conviction and love of God or severe our ties and go 100% percent into the world. God was too real to me to deny Him, so I cut my ties with the worldwhich meant saying good bye to my high school best friend who over the years became more and more worldly. It was really tough, I really liked Peter but God was more important.
So on the eve of needing to talk to him he approached me first and basically said he had noticed a change in me and that I was no longer any more fun and he needed to put his energy into other guys he knew that would party and do all the things that goes along with that. It was tough to lose him in one sense since we had been friends since our freshman year in High School, but I was glad that I no longer had to be ashamed of my actions that were beginning to take a toll on my self esteem. It’s no fun being fake, there is no strength in that; being authentic and true to your values is were strength of soul comes from. It felt good again to be able to look at myself in the mirror and be pleased with who I saw, and knowing that I would only become stronger.
How about you, hopefully you have a similar story, if not change is as real and present as the time it takes your knees to hit the floor. God hears, God cares and with God, All Things are Possible. Amen
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man ( or woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped in this grace in which we stand,”
Trust this study blessed you as it has me. It is wonderful to hear my Father’s words as He combines thoughts and expression, much like sending a PDF through email to my mind. I feel so honored and it’s not unique to me. As you read the scriptures take time to take notes, write down what the Spirit is impressing you with. You will be blessed, guaranteed.
Dear Father,
Thank you for this study and for the Truth that is shared. Help us to do our part and place ourselves before you with a quiet and humble heart eager to learn. Make us good students of the truth, and then to share that truth by how we live life. Let our lives be Your witness and then words as needed. Thank you and Amen.