Do my difficult circumstances cause me to lose faith in God promises?

Do my difficult circumstances cause me to lose faith in God promises?

Do you ever go to bed at night wondering why your circumstances have taken a turn for the worse?  Do you ever wonder if God has for some reason abandoned you?  Is it then time to throw yourself a pity party, relish in the victim mentality, and then blame others for your misery?

As followers of Jesus we should ask ourselves a couple of questions:

·        Am I going to allow my circumstances to control my attitude?

·        Am I willing to adapt to my present circumstances and trust God?

The reason we should ask questions like this is to remind ourselves that difficult circumstances can be used by God to train us and build our character. Have you ever wondered why after praying why God doesn’t quickly answer our prayers and make everything right immediately?  I think if we look back at many of the difficult situations we found ourselves agonizing over, those very circumstances where really great learning opportunities that needed to happen in order for us to grow spiritually. We have to understand God is sovereign over His creation and His desire is for all of us to know Him and trust Him with our lives. When we trust God we must trust that His plan for our lives which includes the testing of our faith.

The testing of our faith has great benefits:

James 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Perseverance through trials brings hope and strengthens our faith:

Romans 5:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

Peace and Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Trusting God means He will direct our path:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own 

understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

One truth for us:

God says He will never leave us nor forsake us (God will not abandon us).

·        This verse really encourages me during my trials and spiritual battles:

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

We must remember when we process our circumstances only through our feelings and blot out the Godly eternal perspective, we can easily forget that God might be using a particular situation to grow our character and deepen our level of spiritual maturity. We must remember it is God’s desire for us is to become more like Jesus.  If we look at all that God has promised we know that He can and will use our difficult circumstances to teach us, and develop Christ-like character in us.  We also have to remember that as followers of Jesus, there will be times when God will need to discipline us in order for us to recognize that certain areas of our life are sinful and need to be changed. God does this out of His love for us. Here is the whole passage from Hebrews that explains it best.

Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Let’s look at some truths from God’s Word that can help us have a greater understanding about God’s will for our lives:  

God wants to persevere through the hard times and develop a Christ-like Character in us:

James 5:11 NIV:

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV:

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version (NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 8:29 New International Version (NIV)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

God desires to deliver us from spiritual death and fear. We can trust Him with our lives, now and for all eternity:

Psalm 34:4 NIV

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 62:1-2 NIV

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

 Psalm 145:18-19 NIV

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Isaiah 12:2 NIV

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

God desires and promises to give us rest and peace:

 Matthew 11:28-31 NIV

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

1 Peter 5:7-10 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,

will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God’s Disciplines us for our own good:

Hebrews 12:7 NIV   
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Hebrews 12:8 NIV   
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Hebrews 12:11 NIV  
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who

have been trained by it.

There is a greater purpose tied to Suffering:

Romans 8:17 NIV  
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Philippians 1:29 NIV   
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

1 Peter 4:13 NIV  
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 5:10 NIV  
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and

make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 4:19 NIV:

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

The Good News of God’s Faithfulness:

The next time we find ourselves in the middle of a difficult circumstance, let’s not let react in fear and use limited perspective to deliver our way out of it. Let’s trust God through obedience and faith to work through that situation so it is resolved in His good and perfect way. We know from His promises that He has a great purpose in all things for those who are followers of Jesus.

Romans 8:28 NLT

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

The good news is that God is faithful and trustworthy in all His promises:

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hebrews 10:23-24 NIV:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

If we remain in a growing personal relationship with God, those around us will reap the benefits that come from a person who has become a new creation in Christ; one whose growth into Christ-likeness shines the light of hope into a fallen world. Through a Godly eternal perspective, we can rejoice even when we are faced with difficulties.

We know God has a plan for our lives and we are part of His story of Redemption, Reconciliation and Salvation. God’s plan includes our transformation through the process of Sanctification which sets us apart to God’s design and purpose and changes us so that our character and life reflect the attributes and qualities of our Savior.

Ephesians 1:7 NIV 
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV 
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Romans 15:15-16 NIV

I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

God has a great purpose for our lives. Let us hold on tightly to the promises He has made.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Philippians 2:13 TNIV

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

Let’s remember the difficulties we face in this fallen world pale in comparison to the hope and future we have in Jesus.

Just Sayin………………..Dave