We all have problems we go through. Some bigger then others.
How do you handle problems that seem to never end and they have the world closing in on you?
The only way to handle them is to stand on the promises of God.
That's often easier said then done. So the question is: What do we do about it? Most of us Christians know what to do, but we seem to forget to apply it. I know I have to remind myself often as to what to do in these situations.
LA 3:19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
If you look at the previous verses, you will notice that the writer doesn't say to ignore your troubles and they will go away, or that you shouldn't have any troubles. He says to wait on God and trust in him to help us.
As you see in the next two verses, God will help you.
1PE 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
A lot of times we have a pity party: "Why me?" You will notice that even Paul, who wrote a good portion of the New Testament wasn't immune to struggles. It is a part of life.
2CO 7:5 For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
Now there is something you may have noticed in the last verses. Did you notice the help came in human form? God will use others to comfort us. We are suppose to be there for one another.
In the following verse you will actually see that we get comforted so we may comfort others. It comes full circle. God comforts us so we can comfort others who in turn may have been sent to comfort us.
2CO 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 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.
The hardest part is to look past the now. Please read the following verse:
1PE 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Some of our suffering and trials God allows to happen to strengthen us. This we may not like or fully understand. One thing we do know, everything worth having usually requires a sacrifice. Is this sacrifice too big? Do you think it isn't worth it? It is your choice.
God gives us the tools to get through our problems the best possible way. When the world is closing in on us, he will comfort us or have others comfort us, that is a promise. We have to go through some of this to draw us closer to God, but the promise is that we will be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy as a result and we will receive eternal life.
The next time this happens, lets trust God to know what he is doing and hang on to his promises.
There is however one thing that makes all that we talked about work for you.
You ask what is that?
It will not work unless you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
