Hope, Patience and Trust (Part 2).

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

In the previous post we looked at the reason for our hope and our joy, and today we'll look at the next command: Be patient in tribulation.

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Persevering in hardship. 

The greek words used here mean persevering with hope under a crushing load. In life we will face hardships - regardless of if we are Christians or not. The difference is that if we are Christians we can expect them (because God tells us we will be persecuted in 2 Timothy 3:12) and we can endure them with hope. We will suffer in this life, but we can rejoice knowing that no matter how bad things get here for us,m we have eternal life in heaven because if we have truly put our faith in Jesus we are completely forgiven.

As a result, even though we sometimes will face hardships that will tear us apart, we can trust in God's promises. What are those promises? There are many, but here are a few:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

This verse tells us that God is with us, and so we know that whatever we go through we have a faithful saviour, king and friend who can guide us through it and is with us. We can also know that he understands - Jesus, who is God also suffered and he can empathise with us in our hardships and weaknesses (Hebrews talks about that)

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9) 

This verse shows us that God is in control. And we know from Romans 8:28 that he works everything for our ultimate good. No matter what we are suffering God is good and he will work it to bring us closer to him and make us more like him (James 1:2-4 also supports this).

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Although this verse is primarily about temptation, I think it still applies. Yes we will suffer. Yes it will sometimes get to the point of being unbearable. But God is good. He is faithful, and he will not give us more then we can bear. He won't give us so much that we have to disobey him or end it ourselves. He will always provide - trust him. It won't be easy. But it won't be impossible.

Life is tough. And God doesn't promise it will get any easier here. But he does promise to see us through this life and to bring us into his kingdom at the end.
Trust in him, he is the only one who can save us.
God Bless!
Nat.

God's faithfulness

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Yesterday night I was reading through Exodus 3-4, and one of the things that really stood out to me was God's absolute faithfulness. In verse 15...

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.

 Throughout these two chapter Moses is making excuses about why he shouldn't go to tell help the Israelites. God in his patience doesn't kick him up the butt right away, instead he patiently answers him.

God knows our weaknesses, and he knows our struggles. He knows where and when we will fail. Yet he is patient with us.

God is faithful. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All three of these men stuffed up badly in their lives. Abraham and Isaac both feared men and said that their wives were their sisters in an attempt to escape harm. Jacob had 2 wives and 2 concubines and sinned a whole heap.

And yet God associates himself with them. Not because he needs them - God doesn't need us. He associates with them because he is faithful and because he keeps his promises, no matter how much we don't deserve it. God associates himself with his people forever and he does not change.

We stuff up. We sin. We do stupid things. We dishonour God in our words, thoughts and deeds. Yet God associates with us. He makes us his church and he forgives us. He sent Jesus to die in our place. The one who flung stars into space died in our place, taking the wrath of God that we deserved, so that God could show his faithfulness to us, and to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

God Promised them land, offspring and blessing. He gave them that in Israel. But more than that, he has fulfilled those promises in us, the spiritual Israel.

God is faithful. He does not lie. He always keeps his promises. He does not change.

In the last week I have gone through 7 major exams. (I only have 7 more to go while I'm at school). Throughout that time my walk with God has been at a low - I've been stressed and I've been distracted. Yesterday and today he's challenged and rebuked me and brought me back. he is faithful even though we are so selfish, stupid and sinful.

Do you trust him?

Soli Deo Gloria!
Nat.