Taking It to Work:
There are people you work with who struggle terribly. Some by their own repeated mistakes, some from possible enemy attack, but many more than we realize suffer through times of trial because we have a loving Father. How so?
Think about your past. What times and situations in life did you grow the most in your faith? If your like most disciples of Jesus, it was not during the easy times in life; it was through the rough water. Now, suffering is always hard, and none of us like it, but we can easily miss what God wants for us to gain if we blame our sufferings on others, or on bad luck, or on the devil himself – in actuality, the powers of darkness are the very rarest form of suffering. They may sneak in there when we are disobedient or rebellious to God, but rare are the cases, like Job in the Bible, where Satan just moves in and creates havoc.
The truth is, most of our hard times are not from an enemy, but from a loving God that wants to develop us in patience, perseverance, and obedience. He wants to mature us spiritually, and equip us, so, as James says, that we will not be lacking in anything. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but read carefully the scriptures that go along with today’s study. God is interested in building us, not keeping us comfortable. He carefully, and perfectly, meters and monitors all the circumstances of our life, and of other Christian lives all the time. Not a grain of sand slips through His fingers.
Our response should not be one of praying down the devil, but one of looking up to God, to see what He is wanting to bring about in us through the trial. That is how we are to respond as Christ followers. And those others at work that are going through their own struggles? Well, we are supposed to mourn with those who mourn, but then we should point them to their faithful Creator, who is always working for the good of His overall plan, and the good of those that love Him. Let’s not give credit to the devil, he gets too many levers to pull already. Point those hurting upward, to a God who is with them through the trial, and allows His Word, and His permissive will, to work in them, today.
2 Chronicles 7:13 (ESV) – When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people…
1 Peter 4:19 (ESV) – Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) – For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
James 1:2-4 (ESV) – Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Listening to the Holy Spirit:
How then will you treat them? They are not perfect, just as you are not perfect. They walk in struggle as all men do. The storms and rain fall on all, but you are called to see higher, to know the God who brings the rain. You are to reflect a higher understanding. They curse the rain, and they turn away in anger, continuing the behavior for which I sent the storm. How will you speak to them? If you reflect My Spirit, then you will also reflect My truth. Love them in their sorrow, but also in My truth, for in the storm there is healing, but the blind do not see it. With gentleness restore them, but gird them with the strength of My Word and truth. You will walk with them today. Speak and pray that you will have the words of comfort and truth.
