Living above our daily hurdles.

Posted on Sun, Oct 5, 2008

Do not succumb to the thought that you are a failure, or that you are tempted because you are a sinner, but clearly, understand that you are the apple of God’s eyes “who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”. Therefore, abandon your will, your life and “ALL” on God’s power

Life can sometimes be very hard, full of cares and all manner of unpredictability. For instance, consider the biblical Job. He was minding his business. Obviously, he was unaware of the conversation between God and the tempter. Then, suddenly, calamity struck. Little did he know that God has paved the way for his faith to be tried because the tempter was jealous of his devotion to God? By the time the trial was over, Job had lost every means of livelihood, his possessions including his children.

 

Recently, a colleague was walking her eight year old niece to school. At an intersection, a speeding car ran over this little girl, shattering her left leg from the knee down. With the decision to amputate the leg, sadly, this innocent girl will have to face life for as long as she lives without the comfort of two legs.

 

You, perhaps, know of many other instances of unexpected calamities - accidents, marital separations including divorces; - just think of the excruciating pain, sorrows, regrets, and anger with which they are associated. Jesus said:

 

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

So, tribulation is an unavoidable part of life. It certainly, will strike. Perhaps, you are faced with one or many as you are reading this article. How do you deal with them? I have three steps solution from the bible on how to handle tribulation. The bible says:

 

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

First, realize that tribulation is part of life and God who loves you has allowed it for the purpose that you might instantly not be aware. You are His vessel that He can use at any time. In all trials, consider that there are life’s lessons to learn for which God has confided in your ability to teach others. In this world, we are born into adversities. Therefore, when you had been through bad times you would be well equipped to help others in similar situations.

 

“O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." - Isaiah 30:19-21

 

Second, do not succumb to the thought that you are a failure, or that you are tempted because you are a sinner, but clearly, understand that you are the apple of God’s eyes “who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able”. Therefore, abandon your will, your life and “ALL” on God’s power. When Hezekiah received a letter threatening his kingdom, he prayed and sought help from God.

“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD… And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD….” Isaiah 37:14-15

 Thus, do not relent in prayer, in songs, in praises, in worship and in adoration of God’s power and sovereignty. He is the Comforter. He will strengthen you to face and contain the fury of the storm and abide with you until the storms are over.

Again, do you remember Shadrach, Messiah, and Abed ego prior to being thrown into the burning fire? They did not adopt a defeatist approach in their trial. They said to Nebuchadnezzar:

“We are not careful to answer thee in this matter, If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 

 Paul said:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

 In temptations, trials and always, we need to approach God with boldness and ask Him for strength to gallantly deal with our situations.

Lastly, expect that God will surely make a way and trust His invincibility. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”.  God –

 

“The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” 1 Samuel 15:29

 

Living gallantly above the inevitable hurdles that we must face daily is possible. But we must draw from the resource provided in the bible to deal with the hurdles. There has to be  the over-riding confidence that you are not alone in the trial; there is the abiding presence of The Comforter who is constantly succoring and soothing us all the way. Be blessed. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/e/a/heabides.htm

 

 

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