What is your life’s current situation? Are you challenged? Has tragedy befallen your life, your family?
Is it against your heath, your finances, your plans, or your relationships? How are you responding to this difficult season of your life?
You are sad, hurt, disappointed, that is fine, but what is your response? Is the situation drawing you nearer, or pushing you farther, away from God? How are you responding to the trial?
The bible says that Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him ~ James 1:12:
Moreover he promises that No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it ~1 Corinthians: 10:13
What are you going through? Is it too much to bear? Have you given up? Have you stopped to care what next happens to you?
“I will not let you be tested beyond What you can endure” That is God’s promise. You may think you can no longer endure that pain, that hurt, that loss.
Now you think that after everything that has happened, after all the prayers you have prayed; after all the obedience you have shown….What else is there to do to move God’s heart? You ask.
And you answer: nothing. You have prayed. You have fasted. You have followed scripture. But have you? Have you followed ~ James 1:12:? Because if you had, then you would know that you are asked to remain steadfast.
“I have won the right to give up!” you now convince yourself. And accordingly, deeper into sin you enter….and enter. And finally. Yes, finally, The end.
The point I am making is that trial does not destroy you. Your destruction comes from how you respond, react to trial.
What decisions do you make under trial?
Let me illustrate this with a story.
A baby was born to some family, and a few minutes later, began to speak:
“I am going to live only four (4) days, my mother will die in six (6) days, and my father will die fifteen (15) days from now.
Four (4) days later, and the baby died, on the sixth (6th) day, the mother died.
The father nearly ran mad. He sold his every property cheaply, and wasted away the money drinking and womanizing, counting down the clock to his day.
Fifteen (15) days later, the neighbor, a family friend died! But by then, his health had gravely deteriorated, he had lost everything, became frustrated and two days later, himself died.
What killed the father?
His child’s and wives’ deaths were of course the trial he was going through, including the likelihood of his own death.
Two paths were his to follow in this time of trial. He could have prayed, could have fasted, could have sought God’s face….in short, he should have been drawn to God more.
His trial should have brought him to God. But what did it do? He resorted to alcohol, to womanizing, to gambling…..to despair. He chose the path away from God’s presence.
In the end, what killed him? Was it the trial or the decisions, his reaction to the trial?
If this message is for you, you should by now know the answer. May God bles you.