“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6)
In life there are many gates (also known as milestones, major events, or challenges). What are they?
Gates of love: Finding a spouse
Gates of your career: Job hunting
Gates of growth: Birth, growing pains, menopause
Gates of health: Sickness, disabilities
Gates of death: Facing death, family members’ death
These are the gates of life. They bring on many challenges, difficulties, and anxieties, but also victories. Christians are not immune to human sufferings. They also encounter difficulties in life. But the strength of Christians is that they can adjust their mentality and change their attitude during these times. They can rely on God and find peace and grace even in the midst of suffering. Sufferings and blessings are the two sides of one coin. They are all part of a Christian’s life experiences. Sufferings allow us to experience God’s grace and build a personal relationship with Him.
God often uses the gates of life (the major events of our life) to watch over us, discipline us, and bless us. He sees whether or not we look to Him and rely on His guidance. Every gate of life is an opportunity for us to experience God, to ask for His blessings, and to increase our faith.
As we face the gates of life and suffering, we want to trust in the Lord and rely on God. He will carry us through difficult times, but more importantly, He guides our steps to walk in the way of peace. Are we willing to let God direct our paths and guide our steps with peace?
How do we rely on God? Daily spiritual cultivation, including Bible reading and prayer, as well as attending church services are key to increasing our faith.
Cares and prayer are mutually opposed. We should be anxious for nothing, prayerful in all things, and thankful for everything, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7). Do not be discouraged when we make our requests known to God. Pray without ceasing until God gives us His promise or fulfills our requests. If God has listened to our prayers, it does not mean that we should stop praying. We should continue. But we can change the prayer of supplication to a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. If God gives us His promise, we can rest assured that we will receive it. Every promise of God is based on four principles: God’s righteousness (keeps His promise), God’s holiness (no deceit), God’s grace (no forgetfulness), and God’s truth (no change). Sometimes, however, God may delay His promised blessing, as in the case of Abraham to whom He promised to give a son.
In our journey of life, let Him lead. The chorus of the hymn The Saviour with Me says:
“Then my soul shall fear no ill,
While He leads me where He will,
I will go without a murmur,
And His footsteps follow still.”
Let us always trust in God and He shall direct our paths.