Proverbs 2:8 He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints.
Have you ever had the feeling like the world was plotting against you? Nothing seems to be working out and you are sure there is some master plan that is out to get you. Jesus said,” In this world we will have trouble.” John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. It is interesting that when things are going right we think God is in full control; however, when things are going wrong according to our spiritual analysis, we somehow think God has lost control and we have to take over and get things right on our own.
I know these verses would not be found in a promise-box, but it is scripture nonetheless. Matt. 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. In another place the word says in John 15:18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. I’m not trying to make out as some martyr or looking for punishment because our punishment was put on Christ at the cross and we are saved because of it.
I am saying all the things we go through God is still in control, whether the events are seemingly good or bad, right or wrong. God is in control of our lives. We just have to believe that God is God and is working things out for our eternal good regardless of whether we feel things are going well or not.
I know these verses would not be found in a promise-box, but it is scripture nonetheless. Matt. 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. In another place the word says in John 15:18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. I’m not trying to make out as some martyr or looking for punishment because our punishment was put on Christ at the cross and we are saved because of it.
I am saying all the things we go through God is still in control, whether the events are seemingly good or bad, right or wrong. God is in control of our lives. We just have to believe that God is God and is working things out for our eternal good regardless of whether we feel things are going well or not.
There is a story of four lepers who, by reason of their leprosy alone, were having a hard life. They were also living through a severe famine in the land to the point that cannibalism had started to take place. 2 Kings 6:28 And the king said unto her, What ails thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. 29 So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
To make matters worst they were under siege by the Syrians. These four lepers were debating their options of death because that was all they could see for their future. 2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. What else could go wrong? Nothing was working out for them.
To make matters worst they were under siege by the Syrians. These four lepers were debating their options of death because that was all they could see for their future. 2 Kings 7:3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. What else could go wrong? Nothing was working out for them.
With hindsight and this recorded bible story, we can see the hand of God at work and in control, but these lepers could not. It looked bad but in a one day life was about to change. God had sent a sound of many armies into the camp of the Syrians and it brought fear to the point that they ran off and left everything, from food to animals with all paraphernalia for living.
The lepers walked into an abandoned camp, feasted on the food, then realise they must share this news with the city in famine. 2 Kings 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
The famine is over and the city restored. Just a few hours earlier all that could be seen and understood was death and destruction; yet God was in control the whole time. God was preparing a victory out of a devastating situation. As starvation and fear were taking their toll, I’m sure victory was the last thing in their hearts. Yet they had been given a promise that there would be food in the city the next day. 2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
How many actually believed this report? The murmuring would have been hard to avoid because the odds of survival were insurmountable. Elisha was in essences saying that God is in control even though it looks and feels so bad. What are you going through that makes victory seem so out of reach? Have you become convinced that nothing is working out? Are you now so desperate that something like cannibalism (so to speak) is your only option?
No, saints, if we could have God’s view of things and events we would see that God has our victory ready and waiting for our faith to lock onto it. We need to see our situation the way King David sees it. Psalm 34:19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. One day we will look back on our Christian walk and we, too, will say like the Apostle Paul in 2 Tim. 3:11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra–but the Lord rescued me from all of it.
Yes, the Lord rescued me from all of it. What we often think is not working out is working in our favor and will work out a good work in Jesus name. Stay in faith my friends. God is good.
The lepers walked into an abandoned camp, feasted on the food, then realise they must share this news with the city in famine. 2 Kings 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.
The famine is over and the city restored. Just a few hours earlier all that could be seen and understood was death and destruction; yet God was in control the whole time. God was preparing a victory out of a devastating situation. As starvation and fear were taking their toll, I’m sure victory was the last thing in their hearts. Yet they had been given a promise that there would be food in the city the next day. 2 Kings 7:1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
How many actually believed this report? The murmuring would have been hard to avoid because the odds of survival were insurmountable. Elisha was in essences saying that God is in control even though it looks and feels so bad. What are you going through that makes victory seem so out of reach? Have you become convinced that nothing is working out? Are you now so desperate that something like cannibalism (so to speak) is your only option?
No, saints, if we could have God’s view of things and events we would see that God has our victory ready and waiting for our faith to lock onto it. We need to see our situation the way King David sees it. Psalm 34:19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. One day we will look back on our Christian walk and we, too, will say like the Apostle Paul in 2 Tim. 3:11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra–but the Lord rescued me from all of it.
Yes, the Lord rescued me from all of it. What we often think is not working out is working in our favor and will work out a good work in Jesus name. Stay in faith my friends. God is good.
God word Norm, so many are currently going through this season of shaking. This verse comes into my mind 1 Peter 1;7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Apparently God is interested to heal our soul from unbelief and sees it as something more precious than we think it to be necessary.
Blessings upon your health and finances, God will eventually restore everything he has always done it in the past!
Jonathan