Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19, NKJV
I have had multiple other seasons of my life that were very
hard and full of trials and tribulations, and so I cannot compare this one to
those in the same manner. However, what stands different from those other
trials vs the current one is that, with the other trials, at least in my adult
years, I struggled with feeling miserable over something that I desperately
wanted but didn’t have. With this one, although I have certain things that I do
want and am very happy I have, comes other things that are present that I never
thought I would have to contend with or endure.
Thanks to therapy, I’ve been able to pinpoint certain spots
in my story to identify what the struggle actually is (really, struggles in
plural). Still, my prayer life has been dominated on my side with the chief
complaint: I hate trials and tribulations! I hate suffering! I
hate afflictions! And so on.
To boil down my resistance even further, it comes down to my
resistance to make a commitment to anything, even with the trials and
tribulations. It’s easy and fun to commit (or at least lead myself to believe
that I am committing) when life is, well, easy and fun. It’s not so much fun when
it isn’t. (OK, every human being is this way… I get it.)
But – this is part of the price of choosing to follow Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior in all areas of life. I have to commit every part of
my life and every part of my mind, body, heart, soul, and strength to Him, for
Him to use as He pleases. This is complete trust. And considering the parts of
my story that came to mind when examining my own resistance, I don’t trust
anyone very much or very easily. In my experience, trust has to be earned.
And if I could tell you what it was that happened that shaped me this way, I
believe you too would understand. But I’m not going to. At least not here. And,
perhaps I shouldn’t speak about it too much, because what follows down this
road is bitterness, resentment, and greater reason to distrust and disbelieve
God, the same God who made heaven and earth and sent His Son Jesus Christ into
this world to save this world. And as Hebrews 11:6 makes strikingly clear:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6, NKJV
This has become my mission in the last year – to mark all
the spots in the Bible where God makes promises. In order for me to please God,
as it says above, I have to have faith in Him, that He is who the Bible says He
is, and that He will do what the Bible says He will do, and that includes
rewarding His people who stay faithful to Him through to the end.
Believing in rewards – and believing for rewards – has been
a very slow process in me. It’s so slow a process that I know I’m not “there”
yet. But sitting on my butt and doing nothing about this isn’t going to move
this process forward. So I go through Scripture and mark the different spots
(that I know of so far, anyway) where the Word of God itself speaks His
promises:
- Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5, NKJV
- The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV
- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8, NKJV
- “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19, NKJV
- Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3, NKJV
- “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8, NKJV
- ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV
Which brings us to the main passage, at least as it speaks
to enduring trials and tribulations:
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
And the reward for it is in the below verse:
The Race of Faith
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV
I have had several things from a previous life that I’ve
lamented, things that have been in lack in my present life for the last couple
years. But, while I cannot choose how I feel about things I have experienced, I
can choose what I do with them. I can linger in the negativity and the
associated negative feelings. Or, I can try and find something more encouraging
to focus my mind on.
The bottom line is, God will lift you up if
you focus on Him and not the battle or the struggle.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33, NKJV
Amen and Amen!
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