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Overcome Trials with Love: Your Path to Glory Part 3

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 09/21/202408/23/2024 0 Comment

Wow! We are now at part three of this series. How are you doing? Is this helping you at all? Please leave a comment and let me know! Let’s finish our tour of Psalm 37.

Verses twenty through twenty-five states: 20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. 22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

Someone probably borrowed from you, whether it was monetary, an item or even your trust. But now, they have every excuse not to give it back. They stole from you. Just know that God will repay you.

Show them mercy. Why? You are already blessed. You will receive what was stolen from you from God. He will deal with the thief.

In these trials, watch your actions. God orders everything good. He is elated when we follow Him and accept the path he has provided. However, we are only human. We make mistakes.

But God has not forsaken us. We will make mistakes in these trials. Just look to God, repent, and He will take you down the right path. As we go through life, just know God is blessing us. He is merciful.

I had a dream, years ago, that lines up with verse twenty-four: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. It also lines up with Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The dream occurred just after my husband sobered up, but the loss of family disowning us was still fresh, since it occurred about a month or two earlier. One daughter stopped speaking to me completely and the other was angry, but cordial. Here is the dream:

I am entering a pathway from darkness. It is outside, sunny. The path is muddy and narrow (in fact, so narrow, I was walking with one foot in front of the other, like a tight rope). Both sides of the path are black, dirty, murky waters, with crocodiles on either side. There is a man, looks like Crocodile Dundee (those of you who knows 80s movies will know the reference). I realized he was Jesus. He stated, ‘hold onto me.’

‘Even if you slip, you won’t fall in, as long as you are holding Me, I will keep you safe.’ I held His hand, other times it was the back of His shirt, and even rode on his back on other occasions. I saw my youngest daughter (the one who was still speaking to me). She was with friends at the other side of the water’s edge, at a black tree with no leaves. She was following what her friends said and she fell in the water. The crocodiles attacked and killed her. I started to go toward her, but Jesus said, ‘Stop. There is nothing you can do for her.’

‘She followed their example, and this is what happens when you don’t follow me’. In utter despair, I continued down the path, slipping a lot. It was strange, because even though my feet touched the water when I slipped, the crocodiles could not hurt me, because I was holding onto Jesus. They tried biting and attacking, but nothing happened. We continued on the path, and it continued to become more and more slippery. We rounded a corner at a thick bush…then I woke up.

When trials happen, it’s easy to just give up, and cave. We may find ourselves slipping into old habits and desires. It may be easier to lash out and come out swinging.

That is falling. Backsliding. But you know what? It happens. Don’t beat yourself up. Repent. See Proverbs 24:16.

Psalm 37:26-32 says: 26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. 28 For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.

Mistakes happen. We are not perfect. And we are not expected to be, especially in our tribulations. But God expects us to repent and continue to move forward. He loves us. God will deal with the evildoers anyways. Even when you have fallen, he won’t leave you behind. He will still bless you.

Verses thirty to thirty-one states: The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

Wisdom. When you’re in the midst of your anguish, is wisdom utilized? Or do you react to emotion? I will raise my hand here.

I have reacted so many times on emotion, it’s ridiculous…too many times to count. That’s part of the reason my husband gave up on me. It is hard to NOT speak in emotion, and even harder to speak with wisdom in the moment. But we, as righteous people, are called to speak with wisdom. This takes thought and preparation. Too many times though, we don’t have time for that, or do we?

There is an old saying that says we should think before we speak or act. When we react to emotion, it becomes a weapon and slays everything around us, doing more harm than intended. When you pause and think, your words will have thought and meaning, which will produce wisdom and just words. This is a form of love, because you are intentional on bringing the correct words to the person and this shows that you have written God’s law in heart. You won’t make mistakes in your words and slide down the wrong path if you think before you speak.

Always be watchful for the enemy though. He is also watching you, to find a way to blame you for anything and everything. When he sees you make a mistake, he will do everything he can to destroy you. But, stayed prayed up, because God will protect and not let you be harmed.

In the midst of the trial, one of the hardest things to do is wait. But that’s what God says.

Verses thirty-three through forty says: 33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

Stay in His presence, do good as you are supposed to, and WAIT. When you are obedient in the waiting, He will deliver you out of the enemy hands and bless you. God will show you when the enemy has been destroyed, there won’t be any denying that it was God.

Verses thirty-five to thirty-six says, ‘I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.’

The enemy seems to be all powerful and may even have stuff on you that can destroy everything about you, because he doesn’t let go of the past. He makes himself so familiar in the bad, or your past, you may think that nothing can cut him down. However, with God, all things are possible. God will destroy the enemy. Once God moves that mountain, you won’t be able to find anything from the past that will destroy you, not even a stain.

Pay close attention to the blameless and look carefully at those walking in God’s ways. That person has complete peace, because they stay in God’s presence. But watch for those who do evil will be destroyed and whatever their future will be no more. For verse thirty-seven to thirty-eight says; Mark the blameless man and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

At the end of this Psalm, it says: But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

In other words, your salvation is from God. He is your strength when times are hard. He will help and deliver you out of chaos and evil. Just Trust God.

Wow! We finally finished Psalm thirty seven. But, it was worth it. There was so much to discover in this scripture. We must remember to show mercy, even to those who are against us. When we make mistakes and slip into old habits, just repent. But, don’t give up in this trial. You will be full of emotion, but wisdom says to careful with your words and actions; think before you speak or act, because your words can be weapons and destroy.

When you think before reacting, you are acting in love. Remember, the enemy is waiting for you to slip up, so stay in God’s presence and wait for God to take care of the situation. With God, all things are possible, even when it seems there is no way out of this. Look for mentors that have complete peace and follow God whole heartedly. They can help you stay strong in this trial. Remember, God is your salvation, strength and deliverer. Trust Him to see you through this.

Keep an eye out for Part Four. Until then, stay blessed and I will see you soon.

Overcome Trials with Love: Your Path to Glory Part 2

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 09/07/202408/23/2024 0 Comment

Welcome back my friends! Last time, we started to study Psalm 37, but left off at verse four. How did your study go? Was it hard to wrap your head around delighting in your trial? I get it. Let’s continue to read more about this.

In John 14:12-18, it says, “12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

This scripture parallels with Psalm 37:4. It’s about believing in Jesus and that His power can do anything. For example, if your heart’s desire is to quit an addiction, like drinking. It doesn’t say He is going to wave a magic wand and *poof* you are clean and sober. Now, the Holy Spirit can overtake you and cleans you immediately. I have seen it happen. But, more often than not, you will have to take steps in your faith and seek help.

But we still must pray and believe God will deliver you. You quitting the alcohol will bring God glory. How? When you are whole and of right mind, you are a living testimony of God’s Wonder and can bring others to Christ for salvation. God wants all of His children to make it to Heaven. Sadly, we know, based on prophecy, that will not happen. But we are all called to bring people to Christ.

Jesus says if we ask ANYTHING in His name, He will do it, so that God can be glorified. I still pray, diligently, for my marriage to be resurrected from the dead. Jesus IS resurrection. My marriage was damaged goods. Very hurtful, damaging events happened that caused strife, hurt, blame and separation of both sides of our families. I have even been disowned, although I was just as much a victim. In the world we live in today, people see one side of a story and believe it to be one hundred present true.

But I digress. I know that my marriage resurrecting from the dead will bring God glory. How so? It is rare for marriages to come back together, especially one like mine. But God HATES divorce, although He gave permission for it, He HATES it. Because it causes division of family and destroys everything that God deems Holy. My resurrected marriage would be a testimony and miracle that can bring people to Christ.

Matthew 21:20-22 – 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Mark 11:20-24 – 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

In both Matthew and Mark, we have the same story, different versions. To give some context, Jesus and his disciples were walking from Bethany to the temple in Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus became hungry, but the fig tree did not have any fruit, so He cursed it so it would die. When they were going back to Bethany and walked past the same fig tree, it had died.

Jesus says to have faith in God. Our faith should be so strong, that we can move any mountain or obstacle out of the way. That is the power of God. Don’t let doubt or fear in your heart. Believe, in your prayers, that you have received your petition. That is the power of faith.

Going back to Psalm 37, verses five and six says: Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

How do you commit your way to God? Pray. Read your bible. Listen to the Holy Spirit to speak. He may speak through other people. Be willing to hear. Be kind and generous.

Again, TRUST God. He will bring the answer to your prayers. It may not happen as you would like. That is okay. Just know that it will happen in His timing. In His way. God will bring justice and bring truth to the light. Always at just the right moment.

While we are praying and meditating, we must also rest. Verses seven through twelve says: 7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

Facing trials is difficult. They take a toll on you. It can be physical, mental, spiritual, etc. This is a battle, and we must rest when we are weary. Take some time, sit down and just be still in God’s presence. Have patience.

It will take some time to get through this. Don’t worry if the person or issue you are fighting against seems to have it all together or everything seems to come against you. The prosperity on that side will end. The wickedness cannot last. Not when God is involved.

When facing this trial, let go of the rage. Let go of the fury. Don’t worry about them, let it go. If you keep dealing with it in anger, it will cause hurt.

Verse eight says: Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. I know this is easier said and done. Trust me, I know. With pain comes anger. And you just want to pay back the person that caused the hurt.

But, in reality, does it really solve anything? Our mightiest, strongest weapon is our prayers, and meditation. Part of our armor is the Sword of the Spirit; it is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). When you meditate on God’s Word and speak it, that is your weapon, fighting against the demons of your trial. Stay in prayer, speak God’s truth, stay in peace, and let it go. Knowing that God is taking care of it, the way it needs to be dealt with.

Evil cannot stay. God will cut them off. Wait on God and you will inherit your blessing. The evil that has been against you cannot stay. Look at verses nine and ten: For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.

I don’t know about you, but that seems incredible to me. As long as we stand firm on God’s word, rest in him, wait patiently, and He will cut off the evil. at the end of the day, God wins. Always. The prayers will be answered. Better than what we could ask for.

Verse eleven goes on to say: But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. We will inherit the earth and evil will pass away. We will celebrate in the overwhelming joy and peace that God brings to us.

But just know that once this trial ends, another will begin. Because Satan is still the ruler of this earth. Just because the last battle was won, does not mean he won’t try again. Look at verses twelve through nineteen: The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Satan will try again, and again, and again. But God has humor in this. Because he knows when the end of days is coming, and Satan will be destroyed for good. The demons may have their armor on, the weapons ready, with swords swinging and arrows flying so they can destroy everyone who believes in and walks with God. But God is mightier, and stronger. Those weapons will turn around on them, like a boomerang, and God will cause their weapons to destroy the enemy army. Although the treasures and possessions of the wicked look wonderful, just know that all of it is temporary. God has so much in store for us.

God knows how long we will live, so in those trials, just know that God could very well be the one taking things away, so that you can focus on Him. You are on an assignment. You are in the battle. Stay focused on God, not of the things of this world. There is no disgrace when following God. He will provide you with everything you need. Even when you make mistakes. God will destroy the evil schemes of Satan.

I hope this study is bringing you some comfort. It is amazing to know that whatever we ask in Jesus’ Name, we will receive. We must always stay in prayer, even when it is hard and believe for deliverance at the end of the trial. Remember, we must claim our victory, so believe it is won and you will receive it. Your faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move that mountain. Commit to serving God and trust Him. Rest in Jesus. Let go of all the negative emotions and lay them at Jesus’ feet. Wait on God, stay focused on Him in prayer and He will provide for you. Stay tuned for part three of this series.

Overcome Trials with Love: Your Path to Glory Part 1

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 08/24/202408/23/2024 0 Comment

I think you will agree that facing trials, or life’s issues is daunting and difficult. But what if I told you that in doing so builds character and we just might be on the right path that God wants us to be. I have faced so many trials. As you know, my latest is the divorce. However, before that transition, God spoke to me in a dream, years ago, that told me to hold on to Jesus, because beasts will come out and try to take me down (more on that later). As I weakened over the years, my husband decided that he no longer wanted me. But my faith and hope has always been in Jesus. He is my calm in the storm.

by the end of this series, you will have a better understanding of what a trial is, what to do in the midst of it and how to overcome, even when all seems hopeless, because there is hope in Jesus Christ. You will overcome your trial with love, holy love. And it will be your path to glory.

What are trials?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, trials have many definitions, but the one we will use for the context of this post is this: “a test of faith, patience, or stamina through subjection to suffering or temptation” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial). The bible mentions trials at least twelve times (depending on the version). Among their many names are tests, tribulations, struggles, ordeals, strife, and so on. The other variations of trials are mentioned over seven hundred seventy times. Wow! There must be a reason God has this in the Word.

We are going to dig into this topic by scripture, verse by verse, piece by piece. We have a lot to unravel, so let’s search it out.

Why are they important?

Trials make us stronger. It may not seem like it now, because it is painful. At the end of it, you will see what God was doing. Sometimes, we create our own trials by our choices. Sometimes, it wasn’t our fault. But either way, God will use that situation to make you stronger, so that He receives the glory.

Our scriptures for this series are Psalms 37 and 57, Luke 12:49-53, Romans 5:3-5 and 1 Peter 2:18-25:

Psalm 37: Understanding Trials: The Purpose Behind the Pain.
Psalm 57: Embracing Mercy and Trust in God’s Unfailing Love.
Luke 12:49-53: Bridging the Gap: Finding Common Ground Amidst Spiritual Divisions.
Romans 5:3-5: Nurturing a Deeper Love for God in Times of Trial and Triumph.
1 Peter 2:18-25: Living for Righteousness: A Commitment to Integrity and Faith.

Logically, we all want to throw in the towel and give up. Or we want to fight as hard as we can physically and verbally. We cry out to God, ‘Why God? Why?” Or we may ask where God is. What did I do to deserve this? Life just is not fair, because we all want things to go our way.

But, in God’s grand scheme, that is not how it works. We all must face adversity and challenges. It is all about how we deal with them that will make us stronger. It is in the pain that we see God and His miracles. Today, we will focus on Psalm 37.

Understanding Trials: The Purpose Behind the Pain

Psalm 37 The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked A Psalm of David.

1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth. 13 The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct. 15 Their sword shall enter their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked. 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD upholds the righteous. 18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. 22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. 28 For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.

This is a large scripture, but we are going to break it apart to understand it fully. Let’s start in verses one through six: 1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

Things happen. People betray us. That includes family (there is a scripture on this too. We will dig deep into this later in the series). If they are doing well, while you are trying to hang on, don’t take it to heart. They may think they are prospering, but God has another plan for you and for them.

God does not like to see His children hurt and suffering. But, at the same time, we must grow through the pain and suffering. We can learn some valuable lessons within ourselves when we are pushed into difficulty. But those that are hurting us will have to deal with their consequences as well. We may not see it at the moment. This is a war zone in the spiritual realm, and we cannot see what is happening. But trust God.

We must trust God and do what is right. stay where you are and nourish yourself on His dependability. Trust. Even when it may be hard.

If you are blaming God and can’t seem to trust Him, remember, He is Truth, and Life. He is Love. When we are in the middle of this hardship, it can be difficult to believe there is light at the end of this tunnel. Do good anyway. Stay prayed up. Study His Word. Praying and studying what He says feeds your soul, which will also bring unnatural peace.

Verse four says to Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. How can we be delighted in this tragedy? Because we don’t delight in the pain per se (although we can, see the New Testament), but we delight in God’s love, grace, and mercy. If we stay in His presence, He will give us our hearts’ desires. Now, I know God is not a genie, he doesn’t give us piles of gold and the supermodel on the cover the magazine. But, if you are praying, earnestly, then He will make it happen, so long as it glorifies Him.

We still have a lot to uncover over the next few weeks. Study this scripture and we will meet again next week.

Coping With Suffering as A Christian Part 1

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 07/13/202408/03/2024 0 Comment

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/flower-petals-grief-grieving-loss-1025329/

We all suffer in so many areas. Suffering also means something different from one person to the next. According to the Oxford Dictionary, suffering is “the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.” How are we supposed to deal with this sorrow?

Philippians 1:29 (KJV) – For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake

James 5:13-15 (KJV) – 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

In this series, we are going to find out what it means to go through suffering, really understand what it is and what is happening during this hurtful time in our lives.

What is suffering?
Why do we go through it and what is the purpose?
What is happening?
What are we supposed to do while enduring this suffering?
What happens after?

Keep reading to see this in-depth study on suffering and how God’s Word can help you through this tough time.

What is Suffering?

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, suffering is the state or experience of that suffers. So, what does that mean? Merriam-Webster also had other definitions for Suffers: to endure death, pain, or distress. It can also mean to sustain loss or damage and it can also mean to be subject to disability or handicap.

Wow! I see that, in layman’s terms, suffering is painful and stressful on all levels.

According to the bible, suffering is a blessing. We can suffer for doing God’s will. We can suffer from false accusations, which Satan will do what he can to imprison us. But, in this suffering, we are glorified in Jesus. In these sufferings, we also are to give comfort and hope.

Study Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:14-17, Revelation 2:10-11, Romans 8:12-17, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

You may be wondering, if I am doing God’s will, why am I suffering? Why am I dealing with this pain or loss? What could possibly be the reason for God to permit this?

Why do We Go through it and What is the Purpose?

Suffering is hard. It is a part of life though. Everyone is different and handles it in their own way. This type of sorrow for you might be trying to make ends meet each payday just so you have necessary utilities paid and food on the table. To another person it is a loss of a close person or even a home during a natural disaster. Still another person may be in misery through cancer treatments each week.

As of late, suffering for me has been a sense of loss and loneliness. I have been in anguish through many trials in my life, but right now, the hardest is the loss of my marriage of nearly fourteen years, family disowning me based on one side of a story and the loneliness I feel in it all. My husband decided to keep the house we bought, while I opted to purchase a house in a small town. This new house is conveniently located about 45 minutes away from both our home and my workplace, which translates to a distance of approximately thirty miles to either destination.

So, why do we go through this torment? Let us look at the study scriptures for this series, in 1 Peter, Revelation, Romans and 2 Corinthians.

Walking in Righteousness: The Blessings and Trials of Suffering

According to 1 Peter 3:14-17 – 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

Verse 14 says ‘But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled’. What is the meaning of righteousness? It is another word for morality. according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong and it is faithfulness to high moral standards. But, according to the King James bible, it is purity of heart and rectitude of life. Conformity of heart and life to the divine law. It applies to God and is the active and passive obedience of Christ. It also means justice and is the cause of our justification.

If we suffer for righteousness’ (morality, purity, justice) we are to be happy. Why would Peter tell us to be happy while we are suffering? It is when we suffer doing what is right in God’s eyes.

In my situation, I fought for my marriage, tried counseling, prayed, fasted, tried to be his friend, and listen and even did the wrong things like I begged, pleaded, started arguments, justified everything, pointed out my faults and his faults, cried, threw tantrums, and shifted blame. NOTHING worked. I was expected to be happy, despite praying, giving it to God, and being my husband’s friend, in my sadness and frustration. That has been hard. And it is hard for anybody. We are not to be afraid or troubled in the face of suffering; instead, we are to be joyful and happy.

Why? Because in verse fifteen it says we are to ‘sanctify God in our hearts’. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary states that sanctify means to cleanse, purify, or make holy. It is also to separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred, or religious use. There are six additional definitions, but they all come down to separation, cleansing and holiness. So, we are to keep God holy, separated, and clean in our hearts during our suffering. I can say in my case there were many times that my heart was not clean because I just wanted my pain over and, in my head, I was willing to do anything to get my husband back, no matter what it took.

When we sanctify God in our hearts, during our suffering, it produces happiness. When you put your trust in Him, you are letting go of the pain, separating your distress from God’s holiness. He is our comforter.

When we do this, we need to be ready to always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear…People are going to ask why you are smiling and happy when you are in your time of affliction and trouble. You are the salt and light of the world. It is hard, but even in our predicaments, we are to be examples of everything Christ has to offer. They will see the hope that you illuminate.

In my issues with my husband, that is where I am now. I have left all the troubles at Jesus’ feet. Let go, forgiven my husband, and letting Jesus heal individually. My HOPE and FAITH is that Jesus’ will repair the damage that has been done and reunite us for an even better marriage. This will bring God glory, a living testimony of what His love and graciousness is. Only He can heal, restore, and resurrect anything that is impossible and dead. Only God can bring it all back to life, the way it is supposed to be.

This flows into the next verse: ‘Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.’ You may be thinking, ‘you are crazy! The marriage is over, why would you want that evil thing back?’ This is my faith and hope in Jesus.

Because Jesus said in John 14:13-14 – And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus said that whatever we ask in His name, He will do it, so that God can be glorified through the Son. And He repeats it saying whatever we ask, He will do, if we love Him, keep His commandments. He will pray to God and the Holy Spirit will be with us. For Jesus to resurrect my marriage, means that reconciliation has happened, which is a living testimony of what God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness and love truly is. God would be glorified in this situation.

At the end of this scripture, Peter states that …’it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.’ In other words, during the sorrow, if it is God’s will, that we ache for doing well than to fall to evil choices or actions. Sometimes, our grief is brought on by our choices.

We make a bad choice in purchasing a house to how we interact with other people. Or we pick up that bottle of beer to drown out our sorrows. That is why we must have a good conscience in everything we do and be able to discern when something is bad. To know that we are doing what is right, we must be in constant prayer and meditating in God’s word.

We still have so much more to unpack on this topic. This is only the beginning. Stay tuned for part 2 of this series…

Overcome Trials with Love: Your Path to Glory Part 4

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 10/05/202408/23/2024 0 Comment

Welcome back! We are on the fourth and final section of this series. I hope you have learned a lot and gained a better understanding of how and why we go through trials. Let’s dig into this final section.

Embracing Mercy and Trust in God’s Unfailing Love

Psalm 57: 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. 2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

This psalm speaks of mercy and trust in God. In times of trials, we seek refuge in God’s presence, and He shields us until the challenges pass.When we pray to God, He works miracles in our situations. Sometimes big. Sometimes small. No matter what happens, when it happens, we must trust God that He will take care of it in His way and timing. He takes care of the evil that is attacking us and works it out for our good and His purpose.

Verse four states, ‘My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.’ Lions is a metaphor for men of evil. The pride of lions, or sons of men, surrounds your soul. These men are on fire, like a demon, and their teeth and tongue are sharp. They will cut you down with your words.

But exalt God, praise Him. That is one of our weapons to fight back. God’s glory will shine in your situation. The evildoers or situation will do what they can to trap you in your steps and throw you in a pit. But God will trap them and throw them into the pit they dug for you.

We must keep our hearts in God’s direction, to give Him praise, even when we don’t see a way through this situation. God will bring you through it, and in the new day, you will see the end to the trial. Praise God anyway, even if you don’t feel it. Your praises reach Heaven and God will take care of the rest.

Bridging the Gap: Finding Common Ground Amidst Spiritual Divisions

Luke 12:49-53: 49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

There are some issues that cause division within our relationships, including our families. People reach a point where they disown others and fail to understand each other.This is especially true now in our cancel culture.

Jesus said He did not come to earth to bring peace. He came to bring Truth. He actually came to bring a fire. What type of fire? In verse fifty, He states He needs to baptize. He came to ignite the truth within us and cleanse us of all unclean things. Let’s take a quick look at fires (I will be writing a post soon about spiritual fires and will keep you informed).

Here are a couple of illustrations of fire:

Forest fire

Once ignited, the fire rapidly spreads, consuming acres in a matter of hours. It destroys every living thing, quenches the rivers and lakes. Once the fire is out, there is ash and rubble everywhere, a total wasteland of destruction. Or is it? When the rains begin in a few months, they cause flooding and landslides because there is nothing left for the waters to soak in, preventing them from being held back. Many months later, typically within one to two years of the fire, you will see animals coming back. AND, you will see new plant growth, growing from below the ashes and rubble.

Furnace Fire (metalworks)

Craftsmen place metals in a furnace fire to soften and mold them into the desired shape. The process burns off impurities, resulting in a beautiful piece of jewelry or a strong sword.

Both fire scenarios have the same outcome: beauty in the making. Fire is damaging, just as a trial can be. Fire burns off the bad things and can look bad in a trial. But, if we stay with Jesus, He will make beauty from the ashes. We are being transformed into a beautiful workmanship, shaped to be like Him.

Have you noticed a forest fire, once it has been put out, there is a clear division between the dead and living forest?

The living forest (people) looks on the devastation, wondering how this dead section will ever thrive again. But it does.

Fire is a purification process. It brings new life to the dead, kind of like a resurrection. The same division exists in a household. Let me explain.

Jesus said in verses fifty-two to fifty three: For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Jesus came to divide households. Why? Because He is looking for those that will follow Him wholeheartedly. And that means a fire must begin from within you to share the gospel. Not everyone in your family will accept the truth. I have seen it in my family and others. Some may follow Jesus to a point and then stop because they don’t believe He can work miracles or that he wouldn’t allow certain events to take place. But, throughout the bible, it speaks of God’s hate for idolatry, divorce, murder, disrespect to parents.

In the New Testament, it even states that if YOU hate your brother, you cannot possibly love God (1 John 4:20). God IS Love, Truth and the Word. If you don’t believe ALL of the bible, then you cannot be a true Christian. And that is the hard truth that family members and even friends cannot accept. So many people believe that they can “sin a little” or “one time” and then repent. They believe they will be okay. But that is not the case. If we purposefully sin against God, He will turn His back on you and say He never knew you.

In this case, we must stand up and fight for our faith. Share the love of Christ. Stop manipulating the scriptures to fit our lifestyles or conform to this world. Instead, we must conform our lives around the scripture and do our best to walk in righteousness if we want to follow Christ.

Living for Righteousness: A Commitment to Integrity and Faith

1 Peter 2:18-25: 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Although we are not servants per se, we are employees or business owners. Who are the masters? Our boss, or if you are a business owner, your master would be your work or the IRS. So, we are to be submissive. What does that really mean?

We are to be humble and obey authority over us, regardless of how they treat us. This gives an example of Christlikeness. In verse twenty, the scripture states, ‘For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.’ How is being treated poorly and not doing anything commendable to God?

Because in our humility and suffering, God’s love flows through us. We are not conforming to the world, but instead, letting things happen (see Jesus’ crucifixion in the gospels and the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts). There is a reward if we keep our faith and don’t give up on our convictions. In the trials, be patient while suffering.

It’s hard, I know. But Trust God. When Jesus faced accusations, He chose not to make excuses or defend Himself by speaking out. He also refrained from retaliating when threatened. He just let it happen.

Jesus willingly endured ridicule, beatings, false accusations, and a horrendous death on the cross. He died for our sins, so we can live in righteousness. He has come to set all of us free of our burdens. But we must endure the trials just a little while longer.

Nurturing a Deeper Love for God in Times of Trial and Triumph

Romans 5:3-5: 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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.

Although the trial you are in is difficult, take delight in it. What? Sounds weird? Let me explain. The testing of your faith molds and shapes you into the person you are meant to be. In these trials you must be persistent, which will form into strength.

With this strength you will gain confidence. That is your hope. It is pleasing to God, and He will shower you with love by the Holy Spirit. This is a great reward. There is an end to this suffering, this issue. Stay strong my friend.

Summary

Trials are hard. Painful. They make you want to give up. But don’t. Jesus is right there, holding His hand out, ready to help you, you just need to reach out and grab it. Let God in and fight those battles.

Even though you can’t see the other side of the issue, does not mean God is not working in it. He has a mighty angel army fighting those demons to send messages and fight them off in your situation. When you feel like all hope is lost, when you are weary, beaten down, and can’t take anymore, He will come through for you. Just watch. Have patience and believe. He is there. You’ve got this.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I want to thank you for sending this message to the readers. I ask, in Jesus’ name, for you comfort the weary souls and heal the hearts of those facing difficult situations. Father, open doors for them that only you can open. Let Your light shine on them so they can feel your warmth and kindness. I pray Father for wisdom in their situations. I pray, Lord, for an abundance of joy and blessings.

Thank you for all you do and continue to do. Thank you for delivering these readers out of their situations. You are a merciful and just God. Thank you for the miracles.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Coping With Suffering as A Christian Part 3

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 08/10/202408/03/2024 0 Comment

Welcome back! Thanks for joining us on the final journey into suffering. This has such a negative connotation, but it is such a deep study. I want you to have a better grasp of this term and what we are supposed to do. Let us jump in.

In 2Timothy 2:1-3, it says: 1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

While we face these hardships, we must be strong in the grace of Jesus. We are to hold on to His promises because He will never fail us and will never let go. Stay faithful, like a mustard seed, to teach others through suffering. To go through these trials, shows that we are good and faithful soldiers in the Army of Christ.

Heading 3: What is Happening?

As we see in all of this, suffering does not feel or look good, and it can destroy us if we are not careful. But we need to remember it is God preparing us. Preparing for what is to come so we can manage harder situations better. It can also be an example to others, and it can be a testing of our faith.

In this preparation, I am reminded of Psalm 23 – 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

This Psalm tells me to be at peace. David starts out stating that God is our Shepherd, we do not need to want for anything, and He makes us lay down in green pastures and leads us beside still waters. Imagine, a green field, with a peaceful river or brook nearby. The sweet, quiet sound of birds chirping, a gentle breeze and sound of water moving. God says, you are weary from your suffering, just relax here and rest in my presence, I will take care of everything for you.

Ini this pasture, He restores your soul, gives you peace. You take His hand, and He leads you down the right path, the path of righteousness. This is where, in your prayer and reading time, stay in his presence, He will guide you where you need to go.

We are going to walk in the valley of the shadow of death. It does not necessarily mean we are dying, per se, it just means we are going through a dark or rough patch in our lives right now. But do not fear, because God is walking it with us. God uses His powers to protect us from anything harmful and/or demonic from coming our way, which is also comforting, because we really do not have to do anything but rest in Him.

Notice further in this Psalm. I see this as God mocking the enemy because David says … ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.’ I see this as God saying, ‘if you want to hurt, discredit, and keep my children from making it to Heaven, see what I will do. I will prepare a table, full of good things for my children, because you cannot take it from them no matter what. It continues stating that God will anoint our heads with oil and our cup will run over.

What does anointing our heads mean? This was a task assigned by the priests or prophets and it is a sign that when we are anointed, we belong to God, and we are committed to Him. So, I imagine a banquet table with a beautiful spread of delicious foods and desserts, while God is anointing us in the presence of the enemies and then overflowing our cups (which represent our lives) with His blessings, in order to show them that we are not meant to be messed with, because no matter what they say, God has us in the palm of His hands and He won’t let go of us and He will provide everything we need.

This Psalm ends, praising God for His goodness and mercy, which follows us throughout our lives, and we will be in God’s House forever. In this preparation, God sees our suffering, He makes us rest, wait on Him to provide what we need, and he takes care of our enemies. When He does this, He pours out His blessings, overflowing blessings, so that we can be a witness and help others in a comparable situation.

Heading 4: What are We Supposed to do During this Suffering?

Psalm 71:18-24 – 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. 19 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? 20 You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.

22 Also with the lute I will praise You—And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. 24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.

When we are in the middle of suffering, we are not to lose ourselves in the pain. Cry out to God, for He will not forsake you. To understand a bit better, forsake means to renounce or turn away from entirely (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forsake). Starting in verse seventeen, David is saying that while he is old, he is asking God not to turn away from him, because he wants to declare God’s strength and power to everyone, including the next generation. He wants to lift up and brag on the things God can do. He continues to praise God, speaking of His righteousness and how High He is, that there is no one and nothing greater than God.

God has shown David great and severe troubles (sufferings), but that God can revive him again from the depths of the earth (pit). God can increase greatness in us and comfort us on every side of the situation. Sing praises with words and instruments to God, in His faithfulness and righteousness, because He has redeemed us. Brag on God’s righteousness, because the enemies are confused and brought to shame who seek to hurt God’s children.

This is all a reassurance that in our suffering, we are to praise and worship God, for His goodness and righteousness. The more we sing praises to Him, the more the enemy will suffer. God is our comforter, and He will not turn away from us.

Heading 5: What Happens After?

Psalm 5:12 – 12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. God will bless the righteous. He will give favor and surround His soldier with a shield.

This is one of many scriptures that shows God’s protection with a shield. Another famous scripture is Ephesians 6:16, it describes this protection as the shield of faith: above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

The shield is meant to protect us from the harm of the enemy. That no matter what our situation looks like, no matter how hard it is, we must trust God, because He is protecting us. Who knows, maybe what we see in our suffering is just a mild scrape compared to what it would be if we did not believe that God was protecting us, and that shield was off. If that piece of armor was not protecting us, it could be an unstoppable bleeding gash that would render us unable to live, mentally and spiritually.

Heading 6: Summary and Close with prayer

Wow! That was a lot to unpack. Suffering is hard, and it is a blessing. Again, we experience this agony in many ways, and we all have different temperaments. It is difficult for everyone. We must stay in righteousness, to do the right thing during this time. This agony brings spiritual happiness, but it can also bring fear, if we do not sanctify ourselves in God, which will cause us to let go of the pain. God is our Comforter, and we are God’s light in this world, we are to be examples on this earth.

When we are in discomfort, we are to do this for God’s goodness, and not in evil, or bad choices. We must stay in prayer and meditate on God’s Word daily, so that we have the tools to fight in this spiritual battle. Remember, this misery can also be a test, from Satan, to trick us to blame and curse God. But to combat this, we must have faith and trust God. This misfortune is a hardship, but we need to rest in God’s lap and be at peace, because He will not leave us, He is our protector. Praise and Worship Him, with words, prayer, or music. Praise Him because it is a remarkable thing to suffer for God.

My prayer to you: Dear God, please help everyone today that is suffering, no matter what it is. Please give them peace and wisdom as they battle each day. I ask in Jesus’ name, that all these readers become stronger in their walk with you Lord, and that they become the beacons of light that we are all called to be.

Thank you, Father, for healing their iniquities and helping them to understand that you are a loving Father that wants them to be at peace and rest in You.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Thank you everyone for reading this series. I hope that it has enlightened you and given you a better understanding of God’s word. Look for the next topic to be posted soon: The Power of Perseverance: Conquering Christian Trials with Hope

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Coping With Suffering as A Christian Part 2

trialsandfires.com Blog, Home Page 07/27/202408/03/2024 0 Comment

Last time, we began unpacking what it means to suffer, and we left halfway through 1 Peter 3:14-17. Let us keep reading for a more in-depth look at suffering. To remember where we left off, we will start with an example of my suffering and where my faith is.

Jesus will do whatever we ask in His name to glorify God through the Son. And He repeats it saying whatever we ask, He will do, if we love Him, keep His commandments. He will pray to God and the Holy Spirit will be with us. For Jesus to resurrect my marriage, means that reconciliation has happened, which is a living testimony of what God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness and love truly is. God would be glorified in this situation.

At the end of this scripture, Peter states that …’it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.’ During sorrow, we should strive to do good according to God’s will, rather than giving in to evil. Sometimes, our grief is brought on by our choices.

We make a bad choice in purchasing a house to how we interact with other people. Or we pick up that bottle of beer to drown out our sorrows. We need a clear conscience to distinguish between good and bad actions. To know that we are doing what is right, we must be in constant prayer and meditating in God’s word.

Overcoming Adversity

Revelation 2:10-11 – 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

John states here we are not to be afraid of anything that causes us to suffer. So, when we experience sickness, especially a severe illness, we tend to grow fear, for many reasons: death, loss of work, loss of finances, or do not want to give it to anyone else (if it is contagious).

Just to be clear, Revelation is a book of prophecy, the end times and what is going to happen in the spirit realm as well as here on earth. However, I believe that this scripture falls into some things we deal with now. It says the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested…We know that a physical, earthly prison is the place that we lock up criminals and punish them for the crimes they have committed. There are innocent people that go to the penitentiary as well, because of false accusations and lack of evidence.

The devil, Satan, is an accuser and a liar. He does not want any of God’s children to be fruitful and does not want them to spread the good news. He wants them to hurt, and in that sorrow, blame God; grow hate and anger because it seems so hard to bear. But the secret power God has given us is to continue to be joyful in the grief, praising God anyway.

It says at the end of verse ten …’ Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’ Even if we die in the suffering, Jesus is still with us, we must keep our faith. We only need faith that is the size of a mustard seed (see Mark 4:30-32 and Luke 13:18-19). Faith is the backbone of Jesus’ teaching. We may not see the other side of our suffering, but if we hold onto the faithfulness that is required of us, Jesus will see it though. We do not know what He is fighting on the spiritual side, or what demons He is battling for us, so we must hold strong.

In verse eleven, he states we must have ears to hear. What does that mean? Of course we have ears, so we do hear, right? Maybe. We must be willing to hear the Holy Spirit, which you will hear deep inside of yourself. So, just because you hear your surroundings, does not mean you are hearing what scripture says, what the still small voice is saying inside of you or what the pastor is saying.

Pay attention because the Holy Spirit is speaking to the churches. The churches are not buildings, they are us, those inside the building, listening to the sermons. In this same token, listen, and hear, because we are going to overcome the suffering, we must hear to know what we must do.

Living by the Spirit and Not the Flesh

Romans 8:12-17 – 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

We all have spiritual debt and must learn to live according to the spirit, not the flesh. Any kind of decision made in the flesh can be harmful and will distract and can even destroy us on so many levels. This includes suffering. When we are in the middle of the anguish, we must not look at what we can see, but look to God, who we do not see. In this way, we must push all negativity aside during this time and focus on the goodness of God, so that we can live each day in peace. We must let God lead us. That means, we must be in prayer and meditating in the bible daily.

In anguish, we can face fear, which is a form of bondage. It paralyzes us in the things unseen that we do not understand and cannot trust because we do not see. But, when we cry out to God to help, He comforts us and gives reassurance that He is taking care of the matter.

The Holy Spirit is our witness to our cause and goes before us to defend us in God’s courtroom. We are God’s heirs, and unfortunately, we will suffer in many ways because of this. But there is hope, because in that suffering, God is glorified and when we make it to Heaven, we will be glorified as well.

A Reflection on God’s Mercies

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

While we wait for the healing or breakthrough, we must also be a comfort to others. Because we are going through our issues, we can help others facing the same or similar circumstances. They can see the hope and joy you have and see Jesus in this. You can be a great witness to bring God’s glory to others, witness to them and guide them in the sinner’s prayer. Sometimes, God puts suffering on us, as a test, to see if we will continue to praise and thank Him (see the book of Job).

Suffering is a hardship. It is hard mentally, physically, and spiritually. It can be draining, and we do not always know how we will feel from day to day. We tend to think too much about the situation (mental), become sick or have physical symptoms from distress (illnesses or stress headaches). We can even become mad at God for allowing these circumstances to harm us. In my current situation, I have been on the roller coaster of all of this.

Thinking too much and reacting in ways I should not have, which pushed my husband further and further from me. I have given myself headaches from the stress and physically sick to my stomach with a loss of appetite for weeks due to the grieving loss of my marriage, then emotional eating on the other side. And finally, I have suffered spiritually, asking God why and reminding Him of our covenant and vows. To open my husband’s blind eyes and make him see, while I am ugly crying and yelling, just so broken hearted.

I hope this message makes sense to you. Can you believe we still have a little more to uncover? Who knew that something like this would be so deep? Stay tuned for Part 3.