23/06/2023
The Bible tells us a lot about the inevitability and inescapability of difficulties in our lives.
Eliphaz, while trying to comfort Job in trouble, said, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Our Lord Jesus said to his disciples before his trial, “…In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33). Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). He again said in Acts 14:22, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Apostle Peter said to the suffering Christians, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1Pe 4:12). No one on earth is exempt from trouble. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was known as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief (Isa 53:3).
What do you do in times of trouble? In my physical pain, I first take painkillers. In times of trouble, I easily start complaining and get anxious. What about you? Do you go to people to look for comfort? Do you try to ignore the trouble by sweeping it under the rug? Do you turn to other things to distract you from the trouble, by turning to social media or video games, or go on a vacation? Or do you try to solve the trouble on your own, by googling it and trying to find a solution? Many sincere Christians memorize and write down the Bible verses related to suffering. There seem to be many ways to cope with all kinds of troubles. But the nature of trouble is that troubles do not go away easily. They sometimes grow like rolling snowballs down a hill.
James 5:13, therefore, says,
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.”
When Our Lord Jesus Christ said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you,” he meant that his grace is strong enough and powerful enough to fill any gap and inadequacy or weakness that Paul had. Jesus’ grace is not static, or something we receive once. God’s grace grows as much as it needs to give Paul as much unfailing strength and power as Paul needed, day by day and moment by moment to cover any of his weakness or pain.
But the reality is, we have many weaknesses. We may feel sad about and ashamed of our weaknesses. We want to hide them as much as possible and show off only our strengths. Who wants to feel weak, or inadequate, or not wise enough, or good enough? Who wants to feel incompetent or incapable? But deep down inside, we all have these feelings of inadequacy and weakness and failure. And in our weaknesses and failures, we often think that there is something wrong with us as Christians. As Christians, shouldn’t we always feel and be victorious? Shouldn’t we be more than conquerors? Shouldn’t we be able to do all things through him who gives us strength? But our Lord Jesus Christ says that it is in our weakness that his power is made perfect. Therefore, the more weaknesses we have, the more opportunities we have to receive Jesus’ perfected power.
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My prayer for you is that even though you feel overwhelmed with life's difficulties and troubles, and it feels like there's no end to it, may you see God's hand working around you - from the moment you wake up, to the moment you retire to bed at night. May you see His work displayed right before your eyes, and may those things remind you that the God who knitted you in your mother's womb (Ps 139:13-18), and who calls you by name (Romans 9:28-33), is the same God who takes care of you (Matthew 6:30-32).
Shalom.
