DO NOT THINK IT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU.’ 1 PETER 4:12 NKJV
Trouble never surprises God! Everyone He uses seems to move from one challenge to another. Listen to how Paul describes the Christian life: ‘In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us imposters. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything’ (2 Corinthians 6:4-10 NLT). God never promised you a rose garden but He’ll stand with you on your battlefield, take you through your storm and turn your seasons of adversity into seasons of growth. When your faith is under fire it actually attracts God’s power and brings His grace to your situation! Even Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (See Hebrews 5:8). So rejoice, you’re not losing – you’re learning!