^“And let us not grow weary while doing good,

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

(Galatians 6:9)

You’ve heard the expression “choose your battles” we have to consciously do that but sometimes our battles choose us, sometimes God has us enter into them. Some of life’s conflicts become a death defying fight of faith.

When God calls us into a season of difficulty, the trues which we had been learning of the character of God and His Word are to be appropriated to our circumstance. This applied knowledge will become powerfully alive as we trust and depend upon the Lord.  So often we find that we really don’t believe the Bible as sincerely as we thought.  We find ourselves doubting our beliefs and whether God can handle our troubles. This trying of our faith is valuable to God, it is more “precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1:7).

Quarried nuggets of promise in The Book become very dear to us; as we cling to them in faith for outworking in our own life.  During our times of trial the Spirit of Christ can raise wellsprings of living water from the implanted Word within our soul. We are refreshed and assured as we call to mind God’s faithfulness. By resourcing ourselves from our earlier victories and answered prayer we have a greater capacity to develop a steadfast spirit by resisting the devil and his accusations against the goodness of God.  The Apostle Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 1:4 that the comfort we received through our hardships may in turn comfort and encourage another in the midst of their challenge; thereby we become refreshment to others.

Just when we think we’ve got things figured out, God allows Satan to sift us as Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32. Even this sifting is so that after we have gone through our trial we can “strengthen the brethren”. We will be able to strengthen others because we ourselves have become stronger in our inner man and stronger in the faith of God. The former doctrines we thought we had believed are tested and challenged and our minds become renewed to the mind of Christ. By patiently waiting and trusting God, we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us His way through our difficulty. Be confident that the Lord does this refining work within us to help us know Him intimately by changing us into His character and likeness. This transformation is the mystery of the Gospel “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” (Col 1:27).

Our path may not appear to be the way we imagined our loving God would lead us, it seldom does. Our greatest example is Jesus who lived a humble life, he wasn’t the Messiah and King the religious Jews anticipated; they were said to have missed the time of their visitation (Lk 19:44). The Cross led to Christ’s triumphant victory; tearing down the middle wall of partition that separated us from the Father. God’s justice was satisfied through the shed blood of His Son who made the atoning sacrifice for the fall of mankind. Jesus Christ purchased peace with God for those who will believe in Him. The battle has been won; the devil is after our faith to rest in His provision. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to keep and protect you when you face adversity. 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7)