I thought the Christian life was going to be easier than this. Have
these words ever entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family
of God thinking that our heavenly Father will fix all our problems and
devote Himself to our happiness and comfort. However, that is not the
reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom the Lord used
greatly, and yet his life was anything but easy.
In fact, at one point, the apostle thought his pain was too much to
bear, and he begged God to remove it. There’s nothing wrong with asking
the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what should our response be if He
doesn’t? Paul probably had no idea that His experience would find its
way into the Bible, to comfort and guide believers throughout the ages.
The promise God gave him applies to us as well: “My grace is sufficient
for you” (v. 9).
God’s grace could be defined as His provision for us at the point of
our need. The problem is that sometimes it doesn’t seem as if the Lord
truly is meeting our need. But He frequently sees deficiencies,
outcomes, and complications that we don’t. His goals for us involve
spiritual growth, the development of Christlike character, and strong
faith. And trials play a vital role in achieving these.
The important issue is how we respond. If all you want is relief, you
could descend into anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become the
person God wants you to be, you’ll see each trial as an opportunity for
Christ to display His character and strength in you.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
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