01/27/2022
We are not going to escape suffering in this world. As we go through life we will face sickness, death, all forms of persecution, and various trials by the bushel full, one thing is certain however, and this is that our God has promised we will not face any of this alone, because He is with us. In this place we will weep, cry out in pain, and mourn, but in every valley the Lord will be with us to comfort us. Now we are meant to both laugh and cry, to be young and old, and to walk from day to night, and back, but one day, when we reach our final destination, all of this will be behind us; our small joys will become eternal, and all of our tears will be dried forever.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
None of our anguish and suffering is lost on God. He knows our heart in every aspect. He not only sees our sin and desires, but also knows intimately our pain, and witnesses our various struggles. His loving kindness, goodness, and mercy, cause Him to feel our heartbreak, and just as Jesus wept, so does God have compassion, and empathy for us… stride for stride He walks with us as we go over every hill and through every valley. He gives us strength to climb the high mountains, His hand calms the seas, and He comforts us as we traverse every valley…
“Even 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.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Satan would have us believe that we face all of life’s tribulation alone, and that no one else has ever been confronted with such hardship and sorrow as we are facing now, but that is not true. We face what every soul faces to some degree, but as the children of God our Father guides us through each snd every storm. We find strength to endure, and an escape from all of life’s snares. We walk the same path as millions upon millions of earlier saints, and do so shoulder to shoulder with our brothers who are walking with us now. So with this being the truth, we are to resist the lies of Satan, and witness the grace of God.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV
In this way we go through the world facing its natural obstacles, and we live our lives leaning on our faith. We weep with Jesus in our seasons of pain, and feel great joy in those of times of happiness. This is life in the world, and there is nothing that Satan can do to change that. The dark one is a liar, and there is no truth in him. He promises what he can’t deliver because he is already defeated, and is just waiting with those he has deceived for the moment when he will be cast down. He knows this time is coming because it is God’s Word…
“And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Revelation 20:9-10 ESV
So we will experience suffering, because that is the natural way of this world, but our God is our peace, and joy. He will comfort us, and see us through every valley. On occasion when we feel lost, but we can rest assured that He has not abandoned us, and His hand remains on us to guide us. We will hurt, but no pain will be allowed to overcome us, or last more than a little while. Even when we think that the world has come to own us, and that we have become enslaved to sin… our God has sent His Son Jesus to redeem us, and through the life, death, and resurrection, of Jesus Christ we are ushered into glorious victory over all death, and into an eternal life of joy.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
This is what Jesus told his disciples, and it is true for us today. We are to praise God in the storm because when the waters calm we will not remember the fear, suffering, and hardship we have endured within it; only God’s saving hand…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
John 16:20-22 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for this world that we must pass through as we journey towards eternal peace and joy with you. We thank you for the knowledge that the pain and suffering we experience here is natural to this place, and that you will give us strength, and walk with us as we endure it. We thank you for your promise that we will overcome every hardship through Jesus, and conquer sin and death through your grace that flows from Him. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who loves us, saves us, and makes a way for us as we walk this pilgrimage way towards home, and eternity with you. Praised be your name for your deliverance from each season of suffering, and the portage around every obstacle we encounter. Hear our prayers, as we open our hearts to you, and let none of Satan’s lies undo us as we wait upon your answer. Merciful are you who strengthens us in faith and walks with us every day. Glorious are you who claims the glory for every soul that completes this challenging journey. Wonderful are you who sent your Son Jesus to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected for us. There is no other way by which we can come to you so we pick up our crosses and follow Him… weeping, moaning, dying, and eventually overcoming the world to be forevermore with you. Wash us in His blood Father, and celebrate our return as we walk triumphant through your gates, and claim the victory in your name.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Galatians 4:4-7 ESV
Rich Forbes