Tag Archives: trials

Sunshine in My Soul

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor 4:6)

God has illuminated our hearts with the knowledge of His glory, revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our guiding light. He has given us sunshine in our souls. God desires to provide for our total well-being—spiritually, physically, and materially (3 John 2).

Mental and emotional as well as physical health are of major concern in our stressful world. As science and technology advance, we learn more about the complex interaction among the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of life. When we do everything with gladness and moderation, then our body, mind and soul will naturally feel at ease and peaceful.

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Blessed Is He Who Is Not Offended

“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:23)

Those who have false expectations of Christ’s work may be offended when He doesn’t meet their expectations. Some may come to Christ only expecting Him to provide material abundance or physical well-being, and they become disappointed and fall away when their expectations are not met. Blessed are we if we accept God’s plan and His will for us, even if it is contrary to our expectations or requires us to endure painful trials.

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Cling to God

“For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” (Psalm 66:10-12)

As the people of God, we will undoubtedly go through periods of refinement. There will be times of affliction, times when burdens press hard against our backs. There will be times when we seem to be dragged into the net, when people will “ride over our heads,” when we will go through the fire and through the water. 

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Worship Him in Times of Distress

Upon reading Job chapter 1, I questioned how Job was able to worship God when his loved ones and all of his possessions were stripped away from him all at once, beyond human reasoning.

From the actions Job took, we can learn how to worship God during times of trials and tribulations. He immediately ‘fell to the ground and worshipped’ (vs 20). He simply did not make time to complain or murmur. Instead, he remembered who God is, and praised Him. Though it is clear that Job was in deep sorrow, his emotions did not distract him or move his faith. He was wise to know that to endure these sufferings is better than to curse, sin or charge God with wrong (vs 22). Described as ‘blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil’, it is clear Job had established a strong and immovable relationship with God. He had not allowed his possessions and children to become idols in his heart, as he understood that God is the Creator of all things. Thus, when he was hit with such great calamity, Job found his source of strength in God, and was not easily overcome.

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Branded

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Mk 10:38, cf. v39-40; Lk 12:50)

The baptism that Jesus was referring to here is not water baptism, but the baptism of trials and suffering. When I was young and an unbeliever, I used to wonder, “Why are good kids bullied in school? If the problem is not with them, why are they ostracized for being good?” It took me a while to realize that such kids—coming from good, loving, and often privileged homes, who are meek, good-tempered, and usually bright—are frequently the target of bullies because of jealousy. This is often inexplicable, but the human psyche is not easy to understand. Is it better then for them to renounce their good nature or privilege just to avoid the bullying? Of course not.

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