From my little experience of walking with God for a few years now and the many examples both in scriptures and our own contemporary days it seems to me that one of the things most common to all who will genuinely follow Gods leading is trials and hard times, Christianity itself was birthed on the altar of sacrifice and difficulty, people have given a lot for the cause of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes including their lives, but I see a trend in modern Christianity today one which only paints a picture of wealth and prosperity, its like a proclamation of “come and all your needs will be met instantly”, in my study of the scriptures, I find out that’s not the most significant effect of the gospel, while I agree that part of our inheritance as born again believers is the promise of a better life not just in heaven but here on earth, we will also have our own share of tough times, but the good news is it’s a battle that’s already been won on our behalf so we need not worry or fret about it the way unbelievers do, we can rest in the promises of God and watch Him come through for us, in fact Christ himself said in Jn 16:33, This things have I spoken to you that in me you might have peace, in the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. That’s about as plain as anybody can be, because we are not of the world there will be pressure from the worldly system and it will sometimes look as if there is no hope of victory, but we must hang on and believe that whatever He says is what will come to pass.
Paul the apostle was someone who experienced God in ways even the disciples that walked with Christ for 31/2 years didn’t, in his second letter to Timothy ch. 3 and verse 12, he says, yea all that will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution. He’s telling his protégé, don’t be deceived, once you make a decision to live a godly life, things will sometimes happen that you wont be able to explain and you will wish didn’t happen, but its part of the territory, the earlier you realize this the better, as far as this planet is concerned all good will be attacked, and it doesn’t mean that it should necessarily snuff life out of you, you can be a conqueror just the way the scriptures say you are, its your choice.
So how then one deal with these trying times when they come does, is there any advice in Gods word as to handling trials and temptations? Yes there is, quite a few if I may add, the first thing is to make up your mind that it doesn’t matter what happens God is in control, the devil hasn’t wrestled the control wheels out of His hands, not yet, we’ve got to take the advice in 1chor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, but GOD IS FAITHFUL, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able bear it. Emphasis mine. The most significant phrase in that verse is, God is Faithful, once that’s grounded in our hearts it builds so much belief in us that whichever way it goes, God has your back.
I find a very good advice for handling difficult circumstances in one of Christ’s parable, which is highlighted in the first three gospels, it’s the parable of the sower which can be found in Mt 13, Mk 4 and Lk 8, the understanding of this parable is so key that He said “if you don’t understand this parable, how then will you understand every other parable”, in other words, if you don’t get this, you don’t have a chance in this kingdom, but our emphasis in this article is on the third kind of soil that Christ talked about, the stony ground, vs. 16 ,17 of Mk 4 says, And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time, afterward when affliction or persecution ariseth for the words sake, immediately they are offended. Also the word offended can be found in Lk7:23, And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Christ also used this word in Jn 16:1, this things have I spoken to you that you should not be offended, finally Paul also used this word in 2Chor 11:29, who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended and I burn not?
The words offended in every single one of these passages literarily means, taken unawares and falter, caused to stumble, fall away, have his faith hurt, become displeased, indignant and resentful. And in each case its associated with affliction, trial or persecution, some form of painful experience which we all go through as Christians in our walk with God, these passages tells us that not being offended, not allowing our faith to be hurt is the single most important antidote against the onslaught of the enemy, I hear someone asking, How then can I do that?, how do I get to the point where no matter what happens to me I don’t get offended?, its easy, take Gods word for what it is exactly, the word of the Almighty, let His word be the anchor around which you tie your life and make up your mind that whatever it takes, you will stay through to His word, and then you’ll be on your way to going through tough times with a smile on your face because God is on your side, God bless you.