Trinity Methodist Church

There are many good examples in the Bible that we can learn from.

Below are some of them:

Moses, if we study about him we will discover a lot of things we cannot understand. Right from his birth until the time God called him, he went through many difficult times as well as many good times. Through his experience we can say that God allowed the various situations because God had a plan for him. He lived in a palace, in the desert and also worked as a shepherd. All of these things happened before God called him to lead His people out of Egypt.

Joseph was another man of God who became the second highest ranking man in Egypt. All of us know about Joseph’s story because it has been taught in Sunday school classes. Joseph went through very difficult times in his life. He was thrown into a well, sold to traders, worked as a palace officer, was accused and put in jail. Honestly speaking it was not an easy process for Joseph. Do you know at the end of it Joseph was used by God to interpret dreams. To make the story short, at the end Joseph was appointed to be the second highest ranking man in Egypt, after the Pharaoh.

David was an ordinary man before he became a king. David came from a very humble family, a humble small town, and had a humble job. Yet God chose him to be king. Remember, before he became the king of Israel, David went through many very difficult times. He worked as a shepherd, ran away from King Saul and many others. The process God used to equip David was different from others but for the same purpose.

Perhaps now-a-days you and I have many things to struggle with. Remember the three examples I have highlighted above. They too were like you and I; they slept, got hungry, thirsty and angry too. They were no different than us so we too can be used by God for some great purpose.So now, if this is the case, what is our response when things seem to go wrong?

Our first response must be “God has a purpose for everything in my life, good or bad.” The bible has given to us very clear answers for every single thing which happens in our lives. For example, in 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”. Of course we will struggle with it, but if we allow God’s Spirit to guide us than we will slowly accept it. I have listened to many people about their struggles. As human kind we always expect good things, but sometimes along the way unexpected things happen in our lives. Then we begin to grumble and complain. If we look at the things negatively, of course we will grumble but if we look at it positively we will understand.

Brothers and sisters I did react very negative towards many things that happen in my own life. After a while I started to appreciate every single thing that God allowed me to experience because He has a purpose for me. Recently in a church service my pastor shared his struggle about something that happened in his family. Towards the end of his sharing he said “God is good and has a purpose”. Don’t worry, God does everything for good.

I have a favorite verse in the Bible, which I use whenever I minister to a person. The verse I always refer to is 2 Corinthians 1:4-11 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God…….. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer….”

Our second response must be “God is never wrong in allowing me to experience many difficulties in life”. From the examples of the three men above we can see that after their difficulties God blessed them with wealth, position, health and faith. That is why brothers and sisters if we face any difficulties in our lives don’t give up. Remember God has something for us to learn and to experience. Accept everything with an open heart without complaining. Just say God is never wrong in allowing me to experience all these things. See in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Take everything positively and we will enjoy our lives. Many people face distress in their lives because they focus too much on negative things.

Our third response must be “God never leaves me alone, in times of difficulties”. I like the verse from Psalm 23 which says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [1] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. This verse tells us that we are not alone. Our God is Omni-Present, omni-sciences, omni-??. See Psalm 139 which says “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar…You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely…If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there…Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you… know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”.

Our Christian faith is based on “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Meaning to say our God is a living God and not a dead one. He is with us because He is a living God. Don’t worry, He never leaves us alone.

In Romans 8:35-39 it says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, [13] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

To experience God’s power personally in our lives we need to be open to anything that comes to us. Allow Him to work freely in our hearts. Let Him take control of our entire lives. Even though sometimes we feel weak, allow Him to help us. See in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”