Tag: troubles

II Corinthians 1:8 ” We don’t want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”

2020 has started out to be a year of tremendous difficulties, afflictions, and grief.  And in many ways we all have been affected.  But the next time you’re tempted to go on Social Media and whine…ask yourself this question.  Am I attention-seeking, and eliciting participants in my personal pity-party…or am I like Paul who made his friends aware of the hardships he was enduring in order to show them where his trust rested?  For in the next verse, Paul points out that this happened that, “we might not rely on ourselves but on God…”   Enduring pain, bearing up under persecution, and experiencing grief are all part of the human experience…no one is immune.  But it’s how we react to it that makes the real difference.  It’s called suffering well.  Of placing our reliance on God rather than man…and of pointing to Him as the one we depend on…so that all the glory goes to Him, not us.

Psalm 69:29 ” I am in pain and distress; may Your salvation, O God, protect me.”

Suffering, grief, troubles, and pain are all part of the human experience.  No one is exempt.  So if we know this will happen in our life…why does it sometimes take a while to give these burdens to the Lord rather than shouldering them alone?  The Psalmist here is crying out to the Lord for protection and deliverance…realizing, that only God can help him.    The time to give our troubles  to the Lord is long before we’ve come to the end of ourselves…when desperation, hopelessness, and despair have taken over our life.  If you’re in this place today,  I pray Psalm 20:1-5  over you now,  “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.  May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.  May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.  May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests.”   Amen.

Romans 8:35-37 ” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors.”

No matter what the world throws at you this coming year…remember that with the Lord you can overcome it.  Whether it be troubles pressing down upon you from the outside, or anguish that comes from within…you can rise above them all with His help.  Don’t try to make it on your own…God is there, ready to take those burdens.  And in the end, you’ll rise victorious over all the pain and suffering.