Well, weve been looking a series of devotionals that are designed to help us deal with the Trials and Tribulations that we will face in life. These are those times of affliction and testing that could otherwise cause us to flee in fear, attack those we feel are responsible, become depressed because of what we are having to endure, or make a fuss or cause problems because of our situation.
We have learned that God may be using these times of affliction to keep us focused and dependent upon Him. And to remind us that this is only our temporary body, and home here on earth.
We have learned that we must fight against the devil and his fallen angels (demons) and that this fight is waged in the chambers of our minds. And knowing that it is in our minds, we must therefore take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We discovered that we have mighty weapons with which to fight the enemy, and that those weapons are; prayer, hope, faith, love, Gods Word, and the Holy Spirit.
We have learned that we should be rejoicing during these times of trouble and affliction, because these things are helping us develop endurance, strength of character, and hope of salvation. And that these times of suffering and tribulation are the very things that are shaping us into the image of Christ.
Weve learned that we can become a light unto others as we stand tall and rejoice during these times of affliction. We can cause others to want to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, because of our walking in faith during the tough times we endure.
These truths should give us great hope and confidence that we are not simply being beat up or picked on because of our Christianity. We know that there is a greater purpose, and that it is all a part of a divine perfect plan for our life (See Jer 29:11).
This in itself should be enough, but God isnt done yet. He has one more thing that He wants us to know and to be able to look forward to because of our endurance and perseverance of these tests and temptations to doubt and fear, and to be angry or anxious.
It is called the Crown of Life, and it is like a victory wreath. Unlike the temporary glory and honor that we receive on earth for achieving something great, this honor will be given to us in Heaven and it will allow us to live with God eternally. This is a reward for loving God, and staying faithful to His Word.
Hey Christian, life is full of tough times and challenging situations. It will consist of times of suffering, and of pain. But we can know with confidence that these times are being used to shape us, as well as our character. We will take this character into eternity, and it is there that we will be fully rewarded for our endurance and perseverance. We can and should be full of hope and happiness, knowing of our future of eternal life, as promised by God.
The next time you find yourself in a tough situation and things are not going good; you find that your tempted to bail out or give up; your tempted to doubt that God cares, or maybe even wonder why He has allowed this, simply seek Him in prayer first, and know that He may very well be doing something special. And maybe with the strength of God, you well say, This time, no walking away! And instead, you will allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to persevere and endure.
STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scripture above, what does God do for those who patiently endure testing and temptation?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to stick out a tough situation you are enduring right now such as a troubled marriage, a difficult job, a financial crises or a health issue even though it may be challenging you to persevere and endure things that are tempting you to quit?
APPLICATION: Keep reading these passages contained within this devotional series. They are the truths contained within the Word of God. Dont quit just allow God to help you one day at a time. Trust Him, and walk in faith.
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