The Scripture declares in a number of places that entering the kingdom of heaven will be through much tribulation, that in this world we will have tribulation and all that desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The life of a believer is not one of guaranteed ease in this world.
[Acts14.22, John16.33, 2Tim3.12]
Yet in the midst of trials and difficulties, God has furnished us with many promises that enable us to not be overcome in those times of hardness. All around may be darkness but Light is available to us.
[Rom8.35-39, John12.46, Ps18.28, 97.11]
Jesus said that 'he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life'. We therefore need to be following Jesus and His example in the midst of the darkness of trial and suffering we may be encountering.
[John8.12, 1Pet2.21]
In all of the Lord's sufferings and rejection by man He never complained, never shrunk back, but moved forward through those times with resolve and purpose. He had the absolute assurance of the presence of God the Father with Him. He knew He was never alone, and saw ahead to the final outcome.
[1Pet2.21-23, John8.29, 16.32, Heb12.2-3, John12.32]
When times are hard our focus and perspective will determine how we are affected by those circumstances. Our eyes must be on Jesus, our strength must be drawn from Him. Our hope must be in His Word and His faithfulness.
[Heb12.2, Ps18.1-2, 27.1, Hab3.17-19, Phil4.11-13 Ps119.81,114, Ps89.8, Deut7.9, 1Cor10.13]
God knows our frame, He remembers we are but dust. He does not expect us to just endure, survive and exist in our own strength but calls us to find Him our all in all, and by Him overcome. He is the source of endless strength, the well that never runs dry, the Hope that never disappoints.
[Ps103.14-16, Is26.4, Ps9.10, Rom5.3-5]
May I continually turn my eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. Then the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
- sent from Palm T|T3
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