Responding Right To Adverse Life Experiences (1)

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Gal 5:22 - 23 (NKJV) - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

We live in an incredibly troubled world. The troubles show no signs of abating. Be it economic or financial, marital or parental, health including physical, emotional, and psychological, there seems to be crisis upon crisis upon crisis that don't look like going away anytime soon. You look around you, and you see someone who is going through some form of difficulty, or has recently been through one. And sometimes, that person is us. And even though these experiences are disturbing, for us Christians, it's unsurprising because what we see is in consonance with the prophecy concerning the last days (Matt 24:12, 2 Tim 3:1, Isa 60:2). 

Moreover, the devil is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), and global realities, which are largely disturbing, are consistent with his character. The Bible said he is a thief, killer, and a destroyer, so you would expect these ills to abound in a world governed by him. In fact, after the devil was cast down to the earth from heaven, there was a cry saying, "...Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time" (Rev 12:12).

Nevertheless, though we as Christians are not of this world, unfortunately, we live in this world, and in this world, Jesus forewarned us that we would have tribulation (John 16:33). Jesus explained in John 17:11-16 that the reason is because the world hates us as it hated Him since we are not like them. But glory to God, in this world, we have hope! We have hope in this world and in the world to come. Rom 8:18 says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Jesus concluded in John 16:33, saying, "...Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jesus conquered sin, death, the grave, the devil, and his entire kingdom. After Jesus died, He descended to hell. Then He goes in, defeats the devil and his agents, snatches the keys of hell and of death (Rev 1:18), and set their captives free. When He ascended, the Bible says He led captivity captives, and He gave gifts to men (Eph 4:8-9). Glory to God!

So, beloved, I know you have or may be experiencing your own fare share of difficulties, challenges, and troubles. I completely understand and identify with you, but you see, we all go through these things. Jesus went through His fair degree of difficulties and tribulation culminating on the cross experience. What about the early Apostles? I doubt we will ever experience anything close to what they did. Whatever your experiences, the faithfulness of God guarantees that you will not be overwhelmed. 1 Cor 10:13 tells us "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear." Glory to God!

Therefore, in the consciousness of the hope we have, regardless of the deplorable condition of the world, how then do we respond as a Christian in the face of adverse life experiences?

This will be addressed in a subsequent post. God bless you.



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