March 10
Dependable God, what a Wonder You Are! You are so precious, so good and so kind. You are an awesome God. We bow before Your throne of mercy. Thank You for all, o Lord, for all Your blessing in our lives, careers, businesses and ministries. Let glory be ascribe unto You alone now and forever.
We ended last week considering “Life Seasons” and there we discovered that as we have seasons in nature so also we have season in life. As the natural season takes off without recourse to you so also the season of life. The difference is why the seasons of nature effects everyone in that environment, the seasons of life is so personal that even a spouse, parent or child may not know when their beloved one is going through it, except one with the heart of Jesus (compassion) will be sensitive enough to know.(Matt 9:36; 14:14)
However, the comfort we have as Christians is that whatever season we are is not only know to God, He is also in it with us (Ps 23:4-5). The winter season is not easy nor is it palatable for anyone but the above scripture give us the desired comfort to patiently wait for Him. It is a trying period for every individual God wants to use. In Ps 105:19 before God placed Joseph in the palace, He tested him to see his faithfulness (Gen 39:7-9). The opportunity would have relieved Joseph his suffering but will have also denied him of His ministry (Second -in – command to Pharaoh) (Gen 41:38-44). This bring us to today’s message, can we be trusted by God? While Job was passing through his winter season’s in life, he asked God why is He allowing him to pass through all these pains. More from the message below:
“Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.” Job 10:2
Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star—not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.
Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?—for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised?
Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service.
He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?
“Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,
Lay me low, and keep me there.”
In all these we are more than conquering through Christ that strengthens us. The Lord our God will be with us even in lowest pit and guide us through it. Until you get to where the Lord appoints for you, your land of rest, He will continue to cause some discomfort to you. He will shake off your comfort zone, to get you where He destined for you from creation. He will even use giants, task masters if need be. Are you surprised? Let’s get more from the experience of the Israelites in the next message:
“Thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.” Psalm 91:9
The Israelites in the wilderness were continually exposed to change. Whenever the pillar stayed its motion, the tents were pitched; but tomorrow, ere the morning sun had risen, the trumpet sounded, the ark was in motion, and the fiery, cloudy pillar was leading the way through the narrow defiles of the mountain, up the hillside, or along the arid waste of the wilderness.
They had scarcely time to rest a little before they heard the sound of “Away! this is not your rest; you must still be onward journeying towards Canaan!” They were never long in one place. Even wells and palm trees could not detain them. Yet they had an abiding home in their God, His cloudy pillar was their roof-tree, and its flame by night their household fire. They must go onward from place to place, continually changing, never having time to settle, and to say, “Now we are secure; in this place we shall dwell.” “Yet,” says Moses, “though we are always changing, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place throughout all generations.”
The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich today and poor tomorrow; he may be sickly today and well tomorrow; he may be in happiness today, tomorrow he may be distressed—but there is no change with regard to his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday, He loves me today. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord.
Let prospects be blighted; let hopes be blasted; let joy be withered; let mildews destroy everything; I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is “my strong habitation whereunto I can continually resort.” I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.
Beloved, we are serving a Faithful God, Who can never leave nor forsake us, so let us come boldly before the throne and present our case before Him, He will help us and make our ways pleasing unto Him.
Someone is coming out of a difficulty situation by the rising of this message. I see you triumphing over your enemies and stepping into your glorious future destined for you from creation. Amen!
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu.
