Why Are All of These Terrible Things Happening? Am I being punished? Will this ever end?
Many people ask themselves these questions many times, especially during the most turbulent times of their lives when things just don’t make sense, especially when things appear to be growing worse, and when God feels distant and seems silent. As a small child I remember my mother rising early and ending the day with the Lord on her heart. Jesus Christ was her mentor, her example, her friend, her companion no matter what she faced. The anointing was evident in her face, her countenance, her tenacity to continue, and the time she took each night to teach me about the Lord through Bible readings, songs, and games we played. This was the first time I learned that no matter what we have to face in life or how egregious the circumstance, God still sits on the throne and has a wonderful plan for all of the struggle.
When the storms Increase in Velocity so does God’s Mercy.
There are times in our lives when we are doing all the right things, when we’re trusting and believing that the same God who brought us through hard times in the past, will deliver us as quickly as He did before, or in the same manner. We cry, we wait, we pray, and we trust, but still there seems to be no relief, no answer. As the storms increase in strength and seem to never end, we begin to wonder if we are being punished, targeted, or forsaken, and many of us begin to doubt the true existence of God because we fail to fully understand beyond the five senses why a loving God would allow seemingly unbearable pain. It is hard to conceptualize how God could suddenly turn His back and walk away during the darkest moments of our lives leaving us to fend for ourselves in very painful moments. We may feel abandoned, but we are not alone in our sufferings, the Lord Jesus felt this exact way before His crucifixion. He felt separated from God like we often do when we feel pressured or uncertain. He felt anxious and forsaken after having an oneness with God, but continued to be obedient in spite of how he felt. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
If we rely on our feelings we will often be misled, because feelings change for a variety of reasons and therefore have nothing to do with obedience. Jesus went to the cross anyway. Furthermore, God doesn't always promise us that things will turn out the way we planned, expected, and anticipated, but He did promise that no matter what we have to face He will always be there with us, even when we don’t feel His presence. He knows every situation, sees every teardrop that falls from your eye, and He has a resolution and a plan to bring you out, in His time. God is the solution to every problem, and has a time limit to every trial.
Trials and tribulation arrive to strengthen, test, and teach, and the only choices we have through the inferno process, are to either become bitter or better.
The purpose of trials as painful as they are force us to higher ground, otherwise we would remain stuck in the valley and never reach the mountain top which is God’s intended destiny for us. Sometimes God will allow pressure to force us out of our comfort zone, and we must be willing to stand a little discomfort in order to receive what He has in store for us. Storms in the form of adversity, persecution, job loss, a nasty divorce, bereavement, a wayward child, a broken relationship, a sick loved one, and persecution in any form, is the stretching process we must endure in order to move into God’s intended destiny for our lives. Like a skilled artist, God creates a masterpiece. He never makes mistakes, nor does He crumble His work and toss it into the trash. God continues to build on what He started until it is just right, because only He can see the finished product. Therefore, storms are designed to bring us into a new dimension and transition us to another spiritual level. You may be saying, “Well, I just can’t take another thing right now.” God is saying, yes you can. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. God knows when and how to stop the pressing block before it fully crushes you. If you feel crushed right now, just know that it is God’s way of squeezing you hard enough to reveal your true character, the real person you are on the inside and what you need to work on. It doesn't always mean that you are being punished or chastised, but there is a great lesson to be learned in every trial. Storms cause us to reflect on any sin that may be present in our lives, any bad attitudes we have, or any grudges we continue to harbor. Storms do not dim the way, but produce light in the path of darkness, and there is a light at the end of every tunnel, and it’s not always a train. You can and will survive your storm.
God’s Mercy is Renewed Every Morning
As I rise in the morning hours drinking my morning coffee with God, and before I begin my day, I ask for a heaping portion of the renewed mercy He has stored for me this day. God is merciful and full of grace especially during the times we need it the most. He promised to never leave nor forsake us. He promised that no weapon formed against you will prosper, and if God said it then He meant it! Nothing that you are facing at the present moment is a surprise to the almighty that is in control of ALL things, and He has a perfect outcome for you if you remain steadfast and continue to persevere through the torrential storms. Many of us give up and throw in the towel when we fail to see things changing, but God is always up to something and always working every situation out on your behalf. “God’s thoughts for you are thoughts of peace and not evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. Intensity of pain means you’re getting closer to your breakthrough. For example: Right before a baby is born, the mother’s pain is greatly increased, and the physician doesn’t tell her to stop or give up, but coaches her to push harder until the baby is born. Whatever God is trying to birth through you, will bring you great joy if you keep pushing through it. Now, is not the time to stop, you’ve come too far in your journey to throw in the towel.
God never said that perceived weapons of mass destruction would not be formed; He said they would not prosper.
The enemy is never going away, so it is a waste of time stressing over every negative thing that comes our way. Satan will do anything and everything to distract you from God's purpose and plan. His goal is to stress you the point where you have no strength to even utter a simple prayer. Don't waste time fighting people or thinking about things you have no control over. Whatever it takes, your biggest fight is in keeping your mind on God at all times, and not trying to put out the little fires the enemy starts. Let the captain handle it all. God is the greatest fire fighter and while you continue to trust Him, He will fight on your behalf. Furthermore, for the sake of Christ, we will have trials and tribulations and we will encounter and suffer many afflictions. However, this period may be a testing time and only temporary, a time when you really need to dig your heels in prayer, fasting, thanksgiving, and praise. God wants to talk to you. He wants your attention. He is using the floods you are presently facing to move you to higher ground. How else could He get our attention? It is hard to hear that gentle sweet voice of God when your mind is cluttered with problems. Whatever you focus on will become bigger and more powerful. Make sense?
Then why so much pain? Haven't I been through enough?
The real questions are....Is God setting me up for something beyond my wildest dreams? Is He orchestrating His mighty plan and using my suffering for my good and His glory? Could it be that the most painful and difficult afflictions be a sign that the enemy, that negative intelligence, is scheming to stop the promise through the process by wearing us down and sucking out our energy? Be aware that persecution, afflictions, disappointments, heartache, and set-backs are designed to strengthen and bless you in more ways than you could ever imagine. While trials never feel good, they all work together for your good. Stay the course and never give up. Victory is near to those who continue to trust in God's wisdom even when it seems like nothing is changing. God is always at work. Keep praying, keep believing, keep praising Him, and keep trusting.
I want you to visualize the firm hand of Jesus gripping tightly to your right hand and walking right beside you through the fire whenever fear rears its ugly head. Picture the Heavenly Father sweeping you off of your feet and carrying you, whenever you lack energy to carry on.
Be blessed and keep living with your purpose in mind.
Isaiah 41:10,13 "So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up. After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.”
Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.
Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs.
That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter,
"But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go."
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too.
No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you.
You are a child of God.
He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way.
But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.
That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful.
He did not and will not ever let you go
Now, there is the story of two men in a museum who saw a painting of a chess game. One character in the painting looked like a man and the other looked very much like the devil. The man was down to his last piece. The title of the painting was “Checkmate.” One of the two men looking at the painting was an international chess champion. Something about the painting intrigued him. He began to study it. He grew so engrossed that the man with him got a little impatient and asked what he was doing. The chess champion said, “Something about this painting bothers me. I want to study it for a while and you go ahead and wander around.”
When the friend came back, the chess master said, “We must locate the man who painted this picture. We must tell him he must either change the picture or change the title. I have determined there is something wrong with it.” His friend asked, “What’s wrong with the painting?” The man replied, “It is titled ‘Checkmate,’ but the title is wrong. The game is not over. The king still has one more move.”
That is the message of Hope. The King still has one more move. When you think it is over, done, finished, that you can’t go on, that the obstacles are too big, the grief is too intense, the failure too final, the disappointment too deep, the hurt too horrible, the debt too large, when you are ready to throw in the towel, disappear into despair, wallow in self-pity, or live sad, Hope says, “Hang in there; don’t give up; hang on. The King still has one more move.” Remember, the tomb is empty.
The same message of Hope exists for our loved ones. In Joshua chapters 2-6, there is a story about a woman named Rahab.
Built over this gap between the two walls of Jericho was the house of a woman named Rahab
who was a harlot. There was a constant stream of visitors in and out of her house and this
probably influenced the spies to seek refuge there. They presumed that two strangers would not be noticed and the character of the woman was of no particular concern to them. The presence of these men did not go undetected, however:
Rahab took the men to the roof of her house and hid them with stalks of flax that were laid out
for drying and processing.
After the departure of the king's messengers Rahab went up to the roof and addressed the spies:
"...I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
(Joshua 2:9-13, NKJ)
A few days later, the Jordan River parted and the Israelites walked across on dry ground. The people of Jericho peered across their walls to see a crowd of Israelites walking around the city in a silent procession. For six days, the strange ritual was repeated. On the seventh day, again the people walked silently around the city but this time at the conclusion of their hike seven priests with trumpets blew their horns. The people began to shout, the earth trembled, foundations cracked, and walls which had safeguarded the city for years collapsed.
Remember now--Rahab's house was built on the walls. What tremendous faith she demonstrated to remain in her house while the walls of the city were shaking and crumbling in the dust. But there she stayed--Rahab and her entire family--and from the window of their home fluttered the scarlet cord. Then Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the country:
"..Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.
(Joshua 6:22-23, NKJ)
This example is a great spiritual parallel of household salvation. Rahab interceded for her entire family, and they were all saved. Biblical records reveal that this woman later became the wife of Salmon, a prince of Judah. She gave birth to Boaz who married Ruth, who bore a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, through whose line came Jesus Christ. Rahab is listed among the ancestors of the Lord in Matthew 1:5. James commends her for the faith demonstrated by her works (James 2:25) and Paul enrolls her in the hall of fame of the faithful, declaring:
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
(Hebrews 11:31, NKJ)
The scarlet cord from Rahab's window was a symbol of redemption through the blood and the promise of God, "When I see the blood I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). Rahab claimed this promise for herself and her entire household. Even when it seemed all hope was gone and the very walls upon which her home was built were crumbling, Rahab’s faith remained intact.
Have you prayed for years for your loved ones, without visible results? Are you interceding for a lost son or daughter, parent, or spouse? Do you feel like you are up against a big CHECKMATE in this area?
Don’t you dare give up on them! When you pray for their salvation, you are spiritually placing the scarlet thread of the blood of Jesus Christ over your household. When Paul and Silas ministered to the Philippian jailer, they told him...
...“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
(Acts 16:31)
Begin to claim this promise every day. Come against the CHECKMATE that Satan has erected in the lives of your lost loved ones by declaring, “I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved, and my household will be saved!”
Don’t stop praying. Don’t give up. Don’t let Satan write CHECKMATE over their lives. It isn’t over yet because THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE!
lt used to be enough that God loves you. You remember those days, right after you internalized, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in might not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
And it felt so good, so freeing. All of a sudden, you felt humility and self-worth bleeding together, overlapping. But it didn't take long. A few sermons, a few calls to start serving, to do your part, to use your gifts, to fulfill your "calling"; a few failures, a few skipped Bible studies, angry outbursts or nasty thoughts and suddenly you aren't so sure God likes you.
Sure, sure, He loves you. He promised to never leave you and you know all the verses about His lovingkindness that endures forever, but yeah, not so sure He's really all that proud of you. His love is obligatory, kind of like a parent's. But He's not calling you His friend. You're pretty nervous to imply that you and God are all that close. So you cringe a bit when it's your turn to pray out loud. You pick up dime-a-dozen devos instead of the real Word of God. God loves you, He has to, right?
You're not the first Christian to feel this way. That's why most of us spout off, "We are saved by grace through faith and not by works", but then try ever so hard to do just the right things. The pulpit preaches that Jesus paid the price and we cannot earn salvation, but then, once we're saved we discover the checklist of all the things we ought to do to insure our salvation. Sound familiar?
But if it's true that God's gift of salvation is free, then how is it possible that the maintenance of the same is so expensive? And if security does not come at a cost, then how can we convince our hearts to rest in the truth that God not only loved us enough to save us, but that He likes us enough to stay present with us in all our failures, to endure our screw ups, to fellowship with us in our weaknesses, to invest His Holy Spirit in us, to speak to us, to comfort us, to assure us of our salvation?
The secret is much simpler than you might fear. It is gratitude. In the KJV, Hebrews 12:28says, "Wherefore we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:".
In the English Standard Version, it reads, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,".
The word translated as "grateful" in the second version is the same as is translated "grace" in the the King James. A succinct definition of the Greek word is this: The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace, the merciful influence of kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon our souls, turns them to Christ.*
In both translations, it is easy to see that the kingdom has already been received, therefore the readers (you and I) are assumed to have accepted Christ as our personal Savior. The next step is to worship the King of this kingdom with gratitude.
When we gather around the thanksgiving table each November, it's common to pass our plates with the query, "What are you thankful for?". This is the same principle we must apply to our worship: What do we worship for? What are we grateful for?
The difference between "love" and "like" is gratitude. The concept of love has the potential to remain nebulous, but when that love is expressed in terms of gratitude it takes on a gritty tangibleness. Thankfulness requires knowing someone, recognizing their contribution. Thanksgiving requires that we internalize God's love and recognize Him as good.
The next time you are fearful that you've let God down and imagine Him standing over you saying, "I will always love you, but I'm so disappointed, I don't like you very much right now," pause to thank Him. Thank Him for the factual evidence of His love. In this thankfulness it will become apparent that He does indeed like you. His affection for you overflows the boundaries of unconditional love into the confidence that He treasures you, has secured you and that you have no need to impress Him.
* Lexicon and dictionary notes taken from Blueletterbible.org
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted (KJV).
Mourning connects with repentance as it works in concert with conviction. While often identified with grief as the result of a loss, it also can be known as godly sorrow as the result of an awakening. That awakening is the product of the Holy Spirit convicting people of sin, righteousness, and judgment (see John 16:7-11). With conviction comes an awareness of the separation between God and the individual. Consequently, sorrow grips the heart and soul of those who receive that conviction, which in turn leads to a change in the way they think about sin, the righteousness of God and the Judgment to come. With their eyes thus opened, they are able to turn form darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they are able to receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among those sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus (see Act 26:12-18).
Comfort comes when repentance comes. While tears often accompany godly sorrow, they in of themselves are not necessary a sign of repentance. Any hypocrite can produce tears in order to appear sorrowful. There may be some legitimate grieving, but that does not mean there has been a change of heart or change in the way a person thinks. We find an example of sorrow leading to repentance with the Church at Corinth. They had allowed sin to enter into the camp, and as a result, Paul wrote concerning this issue in 1Corinthians 5-6. In his second letter to the Corinthians, we find that repentance took place as a result.
2Corinthians 7:8-11 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter (KJV).
Without repentance, none will ever experience the complete comfort of the Holy Spirit while on the earth. Nor will they experience the Ultimate Comfort when God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:4, KJV [see also Revelation 7:17]). Mourning is also attached to humility. As we find in James 4:6-10,“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (KJV).
There comes a time when we need to put away merriment, so we can properly grieve. Some seek constant pleasure to avoid the suffering attached to sorrow. They use laughter to inoculate themselves from weeping; but without weeping, there can be no real healing. Weeping is a spiritual and emotional cleaning process that also flows into the physical realm. Tears literally remove poisons from the body caused by heaviness. That is why when people have a “good cry,” they feel better mentally and physically. When we allow the healing process to take place, we find that mourning turns to dancing. This is especially true when repentance is involved. There comes a time when we have to face the reality of where we are in life. At times, we may need to properly mourn for a loss, instead of stuffing the pain. To move on in such instances, one must mourn first. We may find we have sin in our life and need repentance. Often, tears accompany the restoration process the Lord takes us through as we genuinely sorrow. However, He also turns them into tears of joy and laughter. Psalm 30:10-12 “Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever (KJV).
