TROUBLE DOES NOT LAST FOREVER, BUT GOD DOES

When difficulties surround one, they have a way of getting worse and seeming insurmountable. A sickness may bring complications, low wages may translate to unemployment and a bad marriage may lead to separation or divorce. It is at such times that one is tempted to ask, "Where is God?"

If you're going through any such negative cycle, I want you to remember this: Trouble does not last forever, but God does. When the enemy starts an evil project, he boasts and may seem to be very successful. Don't be dismayed because eventually, God will step in and crush him. 

Remember how ISIL overran territories in different nations just lately claiming it would build the ultimate Islamic State. It meted out brutality and was so sure nothing could stop it. Now, it barely exists in one or two pockets, surrounded and bombarded. 

In your personal life, hold on to God and put your confidence in His word. Don't lose courage because of the threatenings of the enemy. This was what the prophet Isaiah told Ahaz, king of Judah, who was panicking because of his desperate situation. Pekah son of Remaliah (the king of Israel) and Rezin (the king of Aram) were planning to conquer Judah and install a puppet in his place.

"3. Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, ...

4. And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

5. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

6. Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

7. Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass." - Isaiah 7:3-7 

When the Lord brings you relief, it shall be like what Isaiah prophesied to the children of Israel. 

"18. In your heart, you will ponder the former terror: 'Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?'

19. You will see those arrogant people no more, those people of an obscure speech, with their strange incomprehensible tongue." - Isaiah 33:18-19 (NIV)

Many of us have no idea how terrifying it is to live under a foreign power. The taxes are crippling, rights trampled on. The Israelites knew this firsthand but Isaiah was telling them they will look for their oppressors and not find them. Moses had said the same thing to the Israelites when they left Egypt and were hotly pursued by Pharaoh and his army.

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." - Exodus 14:13 

God has won the victory for us in our Lord Jesus. We should, therefore, stand firm no matter what we see. Every power and situation on earth is subject to the name of Jesus. And although they may strut about for a while, they will finally bow to Him.

"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." - Colossians 2:15

"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 

"9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11 

Continue to speak to that situation in the name of Jesus and you might just find yourself asking shortly:

"Where is the pain? Where are my debts? Where is the shame? Where did the sleeplessness and fear go?"

I pray that it won't be long before this happens in your life in Jesus' name. Amen.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible except where otherwise stated.

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YOU ARE SAFE IN THE LORD! Do not live in fear

The world we're living in is a dangerous place: conflicts, accidents, natural disasters, violent crimes, you name it, abound. It seems that wherever we turn, there's something to make us afraid and potentially hurt us. 

When we listen to the news, this feeling is magnified because calamities and misfortunes get reported much more than heartwarming events. We call it the journalism of exception in mass communication. The bad, or as one scholar called it, "the odd, eccentric and bizarre", which may likely be unusual, makes it faster into the news than the good, (most likely) commonplace stuff.

Contemporary events, especially as reported in the news, create a climate of fear.

If you dwell on these things so much, you will be trapped in fear day in, day out. While you shouldn't neglect to be careful to avoid danger where possible, don't allow the perception that evil prevails cripple your life.

Fill your heart with the word of God and look out for the good in the world. Believe me, it's out there and you will see it. Do your share of good as much as you can too. 

Know that irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control. You can make Him your shelter and have peace of mind. That is not the same as living in a bubble. We as believers know that nothing can be petfect this side of heaven. But we also know that if ever we encounter anything untoward, God will be with us and help us through it. None of these things that people fear should break us. Rather, they should make us stronger because of the grace of God.

Irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control and He is our banner.

We know that the troubles in the world come directly or indirectly from the sin of humanity. I want to briefly share a Bible story in this regard. In Genesis, chapter 20, Abraham claimed that Sarah, his wife, was his sister because he thought he would be harmed by other men who would desire her.

"And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake." - Genesis 20:11 

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Well, someone did take Abraham's wife, the king of the land no less, but God scared the living daylights out of him and he returned Sarah with apology and costly reparation. You can read the entire story and know that the God, who defended Abraham and his wife in Gerar (and it wasn't the first time, He'd done it in Egypt too - see Genesis 12: 10-20), the same God is your Father and He is watching over you.

Take the words of God to heart:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence  that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." - Psalm 91:1-7 

Keep fear at bay because you are safe in the omnipotent and omniscient God.

Read that entire psalm and others like it. Many of them were written by a man whose life was in peril for a long time: King David. Generally, the Bible is full of such encouraging words. Do not live in fear, my dear, because you are safe in the Lord. Amen in Jesus' name.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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