Transformed by Trouble
God has a purpose behind every problem & difficulty. Not only does He use the Bible & His Spirit to transform us, but he uses difficulties & pain.
Jesus warned us that we would have problems in this world, because no one is immune to pain & suffering. We live in a fallen imperfect world. Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve a problem another one awaits.
Sorry about that!!
Jesus went through the greatest of troubles in Mark 14. When it came to the crunch, Peter denies Him, the realisation of cup of suffering on the cross awaits. His other disciples fall asleep instead of keeping watch & praying, then Jesus is arrested as a devious criminal.
Yet all of this took place for our own good & salvation.
God could have kept Joseph out of jail, kept Daniel out of the lion’s den, kept Jeremiah from the pit, kept Paul from being Shipwrecked 3 times, kept Shadrach, Meshach and Abednegofrom the fiery furnace, kept Peter from his Denial of Jesus. But He didn’t. He let those difficulties take place because in the long term, it forces us to look to God & depend on Him.
Regardless of the cause, none of our troubles happen without God’s permission. Because of God’s Sovereignty & control, accidents are just incidents in God’s plan for you.
Like Jesus, when we go through the wringer, when we face trouble, when we experience pain & difficulty, remember don’t become bitter rather think how we can become better as we trust our Lord. So:
1. Remember that God’s plan for you is good. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2. Rejoice & give thanks in all circumstances. 1Thessalonians 5:16. Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
3. Refuse to give up. Be patient & persistent. James 1:3,4 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Character building is a slow process, whenever we try to escape the troubles in life, we short circuit the process & delay our growth & transformation. If you are facing trouble right now, don’t ask, “Why me?” but “What do you want me to learn from this?”
Don’t give up – grow up!
Tony
The Greatest Denial Mark 14:27 – 72
Who loves to watch the weather and see if the BOM is actually right! Storms? Sunshine? Wind? Rain? We like to know what’s coming and so be prepared. This usually means decisions like what to wear and do. Sport cancelled? A weekend away in the sunshine? Or leave now before the river rises or the cyclone hits.
Mark 14 is like a cyclone building – the swirling mass of clouds, rain and wind about to smash into the very centre of the action. And Jesus is at the centre. Swirling around him are sleeping disciples, betrayal, arrest, condemnation and judgement. But was this a mistake – a blindside, out of the blue end to what should be a glorious finale for Jesus?
No. for at the epicentre of the storm is Jesus talking to the Father. “Not my will, but yours”. The plan since before creation to pay the price of sin once for all. The will of the Father who gave his Son in Love to be the curse instead of us. Instead of us facing the agony of separation from God, Jesus took that agony upon himself.
Yes, the storm of Jesus’ death is gathering, but “for the joy set before him” he is prepared, obedient and prayerful. And it is for me, for you. The Maker of the Universe, praying to the father in a humble garden. We can respond with loving thankfulness. We ought to respond with repentance. We are called to respond with willing obedience to follow in His steps. What is your response?
Andy