Responding to Suffering

The Christian life is not an ordinary life nor a normal life, but that of war, and this is something I had to come to terms with within my walk with God. The word of God says in 1 Peter 4:1 that since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude, and be ready to suffer, too. The life Christ has called us to is quite different from the life we try so hard to portray on the gram or the life we covet from other people’s snaps online. You are a peculiar nation. Our life, as those called by God is a mystery hidden in the heavenly places, and only those who know who they are in Christ will take hold of it with joy. In another place, the bible even says to count it all joy when you face trials of every kind. Why? Because trials to a believer is preparation for a glory that is yet still to be revealed, whether in this life or the next and so our attitude in this life must be of those who know they have an imperishable inheritance reserved in heaven beyond the reach of change and decay.

The minute we receive Jesus we begin warfare. I like to think of it this way, life on earth is warfare in general, hence you often hear terms like “life is not fair”, but I believe once you study the book of Ecclesiastes you realize troubles come upon everyone, both the good and the bad and in all generations, it seemed it has always been that way. So, life is a continual battle, this is as a result of the fallen world we live in and the sin that exists in the world, most of the things that happen are the results of the sin that is existing in the world that the world has not repented of. If you would even notice how the world works or how we human beings relate to each other is that when one does something whether good or not so good, it directly or indirectly affects the other person, even something as small as a smile, has the potential to invoke something in a room that the person smiling enters, so everything done under the sun affects all who are under the sun. The difference between being in Christ and not being in Christ is that once you come to know Jesus, is the minute you become aware of this battle, the bible says you are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness 1 Thessalonians, 5:5, this means once you come to know Christ you are no longer ignorant of the enemy’s tactics, you become fully aware of the true reality of what we are up against, for the light exposes darkness, hence it often feels like we as believers feel the headache of the world around us the most.

Although it doesn’t just stop at the awareness of darkness and spiritual warfare, God calls us to be active participants in such warfare. I believe salvation is God’s gift to save a sinking ship, just as Noah was a tool in God’s hand, a gift of salvation to His generation, believers are also tools God uses to save a deteriorating world. We get to see the battle up close, and we are commissioned to be bold and face the enemy head-on with confidence for victory is ours in Christ.

We are not commissioned without weapons, the bible says, God’s divine power, has granted to us everything we need for life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3 and this is through the knowledge of Him who called us, this also implies that having knowledge and understanding of Christ brings about freedom. To know Christ is the first weapon, those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11:32b). In the Kingdom of God, growth is not determined by age but by how much you grow in the knowledge of Him who has called you.

So, what are SOME tools God has given us as we navigate through the raging waters of life?

His promises.

The Bible says the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus. God’s promises are not motivational quotes that we bandage ourselves with to make us feel better. They are Spirit and life, they tear down mountains, build, plant, and uproot. Whatever God has spoken is settled in heaven; it is done. If God says you are free, you are then free indeed. The promises of God will come to pass because the Holy Spirit backs up Gods word, the Spirit of God follows Gods word to ensure that it does not return to Him void but that it accomplishes everything it has been set out to achieve, and the kingdom of darkness has no power over plans and purposes, We must make a practice of meditating on the promises of God and anchoring ourselves in what He has declared. We must make a daily habit of quieting the noise around us and get our focus on the word to receive what God is saying in the now. Trials will overwhelm you when you only eat when troubled or faced with difficulty. But if you make a constant practice of digging in the word of God, you will be shielded in the day of trouble. The Bible says everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock, though the rain comes in torrents and floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on the bedrock.

· Community

The Bible says, let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near, Hebrews 10:25. Darkness thrives in isolation when you live your life in concealment, you are giving the enemy power and dominion because the darkness is his dominion. But when we bring what we are going through to the light we are empowered because light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it. I say this because it doesn’t mean when we are suffering, we have sinned, but when we isolate ourselves from the community from those who carry the heart of God, the enemy has the power to corner you with feelings of defeat and condemnation, but when we press through to meet up with those God has placed in our lives, we will get clarity and peace to walk through our storms having received even a different perspective on what we are going through. And so, we must master the courage to get out of the place of isolation and seek help from others, especially those who are walking with God. We need people that will speak life into our lives, people who share the heart of God and the way of God. The enemy would want to keep you isolated. God isolates to develop, but the enemy isolates to destroy. Therefore when you are going through a tough time, surround yourself with people anchored in God.

· Worship

Worship is one of the greatest weapons we can use to defeat the enemy, worship doesn’t only mean singing, but even doing the last thing God told you to do or serving. Sometimes the reason we get overwhelmed is because our thoughts are always about us. Worship takes our eyes off us and focuses on someone greater than ourselves, God. When you choose to behold Jesus in worship you are essentially magnifying His power, dominion, and authority, and you’ll begin to see in light of who He is your troubles are small. The Bible says God dwells in our praises. The enemy fights worship so much because he understands that the minute you worship, is the minute you will encounter the Word and the minute you will find the strength to carry on. When we worship we affirm the truth of Gods word, and this truth begins to work in our lives. Sometimes we must remember that life is bigger than us, and worship helps us to remember, that there is more, more even tucked in what we face in life. Worship gives us a heaven's perspective, for God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His plans are greater than our plans.

They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31)

Prayer

Father I pray that you would open my eyes to see that greater is he who is within me than he who is in the world, I pray that you would anchor my feet firmly in your promises, magnify your word in my life that I may hold on to what you have said more than what I see, You said you have called us to walk by faith and not by sight, I pray that you would strengthen my faith, help my unbelief and establish me in perfect love. In Jesus' name Amen.