Are you hard pressed right now? Be be of good cheer you are not alone!!
We need to concentrate on every word Paul is speaking in the below scripture. Those words are hard words but so true!! So many times we think, that Christian life is one victory after another, but when we look at Paul, we see a complete and continual death that he experienced in life.
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
Praise God that Jesus has won the victory over sin and over every battle that we will face in life. However, we will all still be faced with opposition, persecution, misunderstandings, and rejection from the world, from the enemy, and from our own desires that battle within us.
In every battle there can be injuries and that may result in pain, but the injuries don’t need to take us out!! We don’t like to be in place of weakness or brokenness. Sometimes we think brokenness or weakness is reserved for special seasons of our lives, but once it’s over, our lives will be on cruise control!! That’s not the story of Biblical characters.
The Bible has many stories of when a believer decided to follow Jesus their lives became everything but easy and ordinary!! They knew they could not live for Christ and live for themselves at the same time. The cost of following Jesus was so high that they needed to have a resolve for things that were going to come at them. They needed to be ready and focused on His kingdom rather than their own wants or dreams.
Why do we struggle so much with this place of brokenness and humility? Unfortunately, from an early age, we teach our children by reading to them Disney books about beautiful girls finally finding their knight and shining armor and they live happily ever after. We would like to think difficulty and discomfort are a temporary state of affairs which will eventually turn into a long lasting bliss!!
The ultimate bliss is heaven but Jesus very clearly told his disciples that, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Jesus did not claim that life will get easy when we start walking with Him, but He told us that we will have the ability to overcome difficulties because He has overcome them!!
Many times Christians focus on God’s love for them to the degree that they think the Lord will save them out of every troubled situation. When that doesn’t happen, they get disappointed or bitter towards God, and start questioning God’s love for them.
Additionally, we are so comfortable with our faith and our walk in our culture that getting uncomfortable and in pain is not the norm. If anything happens to us, we think something is wrong. We like and enjoy our independence, and we also like to know and to understand what God is doing in our lives. We don’t like to be surprised, and we don’t like not knowing. We need to remind ourselves that the Lord uses discomfort and hardship to do His work in us and through us. It keeps us dependent on Him, and it also keeps us humble because we can’t figure out God!!
You may ask why do we need to go through times of discomfort and difficulty? The scripture gives us several reasons; below are a few that the Lord laid on my heart.
1. God disciplines His children.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
In times of difficulty, we should ask the question, “Is this a correction for something I’ve been doing?” Sometimes it takes time to get clarity on this, but the Holy Spirit can point this out to us. The key is to stay open if the Lord wants to rebuke or correct us. We must remain in a position of receiving and not become so overwhelmed with self-pity that we miss it.
2. We need to mature in our walk with Lord.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
Children don’t know how much they lack in maturity. Only parents can see this clearly and hope to guide that process in their lives. The same is true with our God. Sometimes we think we are more mature than we really are!! Until we are tested in an area we don’t realize how much room we have to grow and mature.
3. We will Strengthen Others.
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22: 31-32
Many of our Biblical characters, including Peter and Paul, had to go through great times of difficulty which illustrates a great example for others. Through their brokenness, God used them even more powerfully to minister to others because it wasn’t about them anymore . It had become all about Him!!
If you are in a season of difficulty, please stand fast and know that the Lord has not forgotten about you. Even in times of silence, the Lord is still at work and He is watching over His children very carefully and diligently!! He has a purpose but more importantly we know He is good, so what He is doing will in the end produce good in our lives and in His kingdom!!