FROM PAIN TO GAIN
You would agree with me that no single soul has ever come to this wicked world without a taste of its ups and downs. There’ll always be bright and dark moments! However, even when we’re in the midst of our darkest moments, God is there with us! And when we’re at the lowest ebb of our journey, a place where even those closest to us cannot walk with us, it’s this same God who walks alongside and within us.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I’ll fear no evil; for you are with me.
(Psalm 23:4).”
In the depths of loads of discouragement, when we are so depressed, we’re ready to flee all forms of human companionship!
God is the only One who will not let us go or let us down. So, how do we feel the presence of God when we so desperately need it? It is when we feel devastated and deserted! The psalmist tells us that in our very lowest moments, God’s WORD has the power to refresh us, and see us through in life. When we read the Holy Bible through the lens of pain, we see God’s handwriting with fresh, poignant meaning. His word(s) breathes hope back into our damaged lives.
Our sufferings do matter to God. In fact, they tell us we are exceedingly precious in His sight. Many of the sufferings that come our way are not from the hands of God; they only pass through His hands. In the process of passing, God takes full measure of them. He takes a careful note of every pain that is being inflicted on His children. As God permits pains in our lives like that of Job, He equally bestows greater measures of grace never experienced outside of suffering. Heart ache can result in intimacy with God. In our trials and tragedies, we enter into a fellowship with Christ’s sufferings, according to James’ 1:2-6,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Friends, you can not ever prepare for this life’s disruptive and dull moments nor can you always avoid them. You may never even discover the answers to all your questions. But this you can know: God is with you!! He wants to wrap you in His presence where you can feel His love. And, as you take that unexpected detour, no matter how deserted you may feel, you will discover the grace you never knew before. That grace of His will take you through your whole journey.
According to Apostle Paul,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, – Romans 3:23.”
The word sin is commonly used in lot of ways. And the result of sin is separation from God. Sin involves pride – man thinking more highly of his own ways than God’s. Without Jesus, His sacrifice and resurrection, connecting to God almighty is not possible because of sin.
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ” (Romans 6:23).
It is therefore our true confession and repentance that can connect us back to God. Christ Jesus came so that we
may have an abundant life (John 10:10).
Your best work just can’t get you to Heaven! Even if you could somehow achieve a score of 99 out of 100 in life, you’d still need a sacrificial saviour to make up the difference and pay off your debt. That is the difference between Grace and the Law. Righteous by works will NOT take us far in life, it’s only belief in the Lordship of Christ Jesus! James 2:10 says,
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”
Let us obey God with LOVE and FAITH in every area of our lives. So, my dear friends, having forgiven every one we may
have had discord with, can then to turn to God for forgiveness of our own sin(s), and trust that Christ died to give us NEW life that we may be born again in Him for ever and ever (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23).
Let’s seek Him for a spirit renewal in our daily walk as David rightly said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Ps.51:10).”
To God be the glory for great things He hath done.
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This article was written and submitted by ‘Bobola Adeyemo.
For more information about him, see here http://blogtheword.wordpress.com/about/
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