When the going gets tough!

When the going gets tough





We so often get angry with God when we go through difficult times. Men wave their fists at the skies in a sign of their discontent with God. But do we understand that these tests come from God and that He has good purpose for them in our lives. If we can understand that tests serves to prove our faith, strengthen our relationships and cause us to fear God, which will cause us to sin less, then we would welcome the tests. We would love them. What did Moses say to the people of Israel? Exo 20:20  Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." This is why God tests us. He wants us to live in a deeper, more devoted relationship with Him. We should welcome the difficult times in our lives, we should love them and we should go through them joyfully. We should know that God loves us and that He has only good things in store for us, even if they seem very bad from our perspective. Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. All things means all things, the good and the seemingly bad. We should be happy when hardships come because we know that it works together for good. God is sovereign, God is in control and God loves us, He will not harm us. If you can believe that, then even your most troublesome times would be easy to handle. When Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, did he argue with God or become angry or worrisome. He knew God and His love for him and therefore trusted God in what He was doing. And after the test, what did God say to Abraham? Gen 22:12  And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Now I know that you fear God and fear means obedience. Oh how we should love the opportunities for our faith in God to be tested! We should live for those moments because it proves even to us that God is concerned about us, about our relationships with Him. It should prove to us that God is deepening our relationship with Him so that we can be used by Him more effectively. And that should make us glad. that should cause us to have joy about our difficult times. This is the reason why Paul was able to say that we should count it all joy when we fall in various trials and tribulations. Jas 1:2-3  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  3  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.