Friday, August 9, 2024
What We Fear the Most
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)
We love sunshine, blue skies, and green pastures. But we cringe when we arrive at a valley that seems to loom endlessly before us.
When we come to those times in our lives when there are going to be difficulties, when there are going to be trials, when there are going to be hardships, we might say, “Hold on now. I didn’t sign up for this. I don’t want hardships. I don’t want conflicts.”
And sadly, when difficulty or tribulation or persecution comes, some Christians will throw in the towel and go back to their old lives.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus described these people as being like seed scattered on rock-infested ground. The roots went down partially but then hit the rock. The plants shot up, but they had no deep roots to sustain themselves. And when the sun came out, they quickly withered.
Jesus said, “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word” (Matthew 13:20-21 NLT).
Among the real tests of conversion are hardships, trials, temptations, persecution, and, yes, valleys. Valleys, storms, and trials are all part and parcel of the Christian life. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT).
On one occasion, Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. Meanwhile, He was on a mountain praying. But as they journeyed across the huge, freshwater lake, a horrendous storm whipped up. It was so bad that the waves could have overtaken and drowned them.
But then they saw Jesus walking to them on the water.
Commenting on this story, the great Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan said, “He is coming. It is too dark for you to see Him yet, but He is coming. He cannot leave you alone to perish. . . . The very waves that threaten to buffet and break you to pieces are the pavement for His blessed feet.”
Sometimes the very things we fear the most are the tools God uses in our lives to bring us closer to Himself.
Often the valleys in life are not of our own making. Rather, God allows them to bring changes in our lives. God certainly wasn’t punishing the apostle Paul for any sin when He allowed Paul’s hardship. Yet Paul suffered what he described as a “thorn in [his] flesh.” It was a result of his seeing the glory of God. Thus, the Lord allowed this difficulty in his life to keep him humble.
There was also Joseph, who through no fault of his own went through tremendous hardships in his life. Job suffered not because of his sinfulness but because of his righteousness.
Sometimes we experience hardships not because we have brought them on ourselves but because God is doing a work in our lives.
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