Affliction & Suffering – Lift Up Your Eyes!

Trials – I Gained Knowledge and Lost Pride

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
Psalms 119:67 ESV

When I look back on the various trials / afflictions / sufferings I have had, these are the two main things I got out of them.

My knowledge of God increased.
My pride decreased.

Both are good. 😊

Troubles are just part of this life.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1-2 ESV

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 ESV

²¹When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21-22 ESV

¹⁶The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17 ESV

¹²Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12-13 ESV

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
Revelation 3:19 ESV

Ultimately, though, difficulties are good for me.

⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV

³Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
⁶For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

⁷It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:3-11 ESV

^119:50This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.

⁷¹It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.

⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁹²If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
Psalms 119:50, 67, 71, 75, 92 ESV

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

⁴But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³²“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Mind Above – Suffering is Mandatory but Glory is Coming!

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 ESV

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:16-18 ESV

¹⁶So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
Psalms 119:50, 67, 71, 75, 92 NKJV

⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV

⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV

²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:20-26 ESV

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ²Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each treeyielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5 NKJV

²⁴Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
²⁵To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 NKJV

Mind above!

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Psalms 119 – Ultimately, Affliction is Good for Me

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
Psalms 119:67 NKJV

Yesterday I read Psalms 119, highlighted all seven verses about affliction, and meditated on them a while. The main lesson: Affliction is good for me, because through it I learn to focus on what is truly important.

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
Psalms 119:67 NKJV

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
Psalms 119:71 NKJV

Some affliction is the result of my own poor choices.

¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
1 Peter 4:15-16 NKJV

Some affliction is from God.

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Psalms 119:75 NKJV

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalms 66:10-12 NKJV

Let me see the big picture when things are rough.

¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:16-18 NKJV

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV

¹²Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³but 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.
1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV

Here are all seven affliction verses from Psalms 119.

This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
Psalm 119:50 NKJV

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
Psalms 119:67 NKJV

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
Psalms 119:71 NKJV

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Psalms 119:75 NKJV

Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
Psalm 119:92 NKJV

I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
Psalm 119:107 NKJV

Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
Psalm 119:153 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

God Will Get His People Through!

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalms 66:10-12 NKJV

In a recent sermon Pastor J.D. Farag said something like this.

God is not going to get you out of your problems. Instead, He is going to get you through them.
Pastor J.D. Farag

I have been meditating on that thought, and it rings true with so much Scripture. God is interested in us learning to walk, to walk by faith.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NKJV

A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

Yes, we are going to stumble, but that’s ok.

²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalms 37:23-24 NKJV

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse.
Proverbs 24:16 AMP

God knew about the stumbles before we were even born, and He uses the process.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalms 139:16 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV

Trials, tribulation, problems, afflictions and distresses are just part of this life.

“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

These difficulties have the purpose of refining us.

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 NKJV

Part of the purpose is to learn to depend 100% on God.

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV

Eventually we will understand that the problems were good for us.

For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison.
2 Corinthians 4:17 BSB

This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life.
Psalm 119:50 NKJV

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
Psalms 119:67 NKJV

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
Psalms 119:71 NKJV

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Psalms 119:75 NKJV

Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
Psalm 119:92 NKJV

Indeed, God will get His children through their difficulties!

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Don’t Be a “Job’s Friend”

We followers of Jesus are to learn from each other.

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV

Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22 NKJV

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 NKJV

But let us be very careful what advice we give! In the book of Job his friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar give Job advice. God Himself takes issue with what they told Job.

⁷And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.⁸Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” ⁹So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job.
Job 42:7-9 NKJV

What did they do? I think Job’s 4th friend Elihu understood.

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. ³Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Job 32:1-3 NKJV

My understanding of the advice of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar is they essentially said, “Job, you did something, or didn’t do something, that brought all this trouble on yourself.” In my understanding they blamed Job for the things Satan did. That’s not accurate advice, and God’s wrath was aroused against them. In the New Testament Jesus rebuked Peter for Peter trying to give Him bad advice.

²¹From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

²²Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

²³But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Matthew 16:21-23 NKJV

So let us be careful what counsel we give each other. Bad circumstances are not always a person’s fault. Jesus said this in a vision to Ananias regarding Saul.

¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Acts 9:15-16 NKJV

Truly,

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalms 19:14 NKJV

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalms 141:3 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Time Machines in My Lifetime

Tongue in cheek, ten years ago I was certain time travel machines were not invented in my lifetime. Because if they were, I would have gone back in time and ‘counseled’ my teenage self to make better decisions, with brass knuckles and a baseball bat if necessary.

But now I’m not so sure. Grudgingly, I admit the possibility that I have traveled forward in time and seen the end result of God working in my life, that He used even my huge mistakes to make me into what He wants me to be.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NKJV

After all, Jesus never sinned, but it was the Father’s will that Jesus suffered.

⁷In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior. ⁸Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:7-8 NKJV

Times of trouble before victory are God’s plan.

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalms 66:10-12 NKJV

Psalms 119 teaches on the benefits of troubles.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

⁷⁵I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
Psalms 119:67, 71, 75, 92 NKJV

I’m not yet at Paul’s level that I take pleasure in problems, but I’m beginning to understand how that could be possible.

⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV

James’ advice is also something I have yet to fully grasp.

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV

Peter gives good insight.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV

God knew all about my life before I did.

¹³For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalms 139:13-16 NKJV

So I’m going to trust Him.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

Ultimately this life’s troubles will be small.

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.
Romans 8:18 NKJV

It will work out very, very well for me!

For you will go out with joy
And be led in peace;
The mountains and the hills will break into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 NKJV

So are time machines invented in my lifetime? I don’t know, but I don’t need one. The Bible accurately describes my future. 🙂

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. ²Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Were Job and Joseph Responsible for Their Bad Circumstances?

When someone is in some kind of trouble, it is natural to think they have done something wrong that landed them in trouble. The Bible indeed says this is sometimes true. Deuteronomy 28 is the Blessings and Cursings chapter of the Bible. The consequences of disobedience to God are severe. Here is a sample.

²⁰“The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. ²¹The Lord will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. ²²The Lord will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish. ²³And your heavens which are over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you shall be iron. ²⁴The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.”
Deuteronomy 28:20-24 NKJV

But do sickness, financial ruin, and other bad circumstances always indicate sin? No, not always, as we learn from from the stories of Job and Joseph. Job was an upright man, but God allowed Satan to try him. The full story of Job’s devastation is in Job 1-2.

^1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

⁸Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

⁹So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

¹²And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

^2:3Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

⁴So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

⁶And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

⁷So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. ⁸And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

Since God allowed Satan to hurt Job, I think it is safe to say that God’s plan for Job included this time of severe trial. Job’s trials were not his fault. They were part of God’s plan.

Joseph was sold as a slave, then falsely accused and thrown in prison.

¹⁹So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. ²⁰Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
Genesis 39:19-20 NKJV

It wasn’t Joseph’s fault that he was a slave, in prison. The Psalms give us a clue what was really going on for Joseph in his trials – testing by God.

¹⁶Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
¹⁷He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
¹⁹Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
Psalms 105:16-19 NKJV

Of course, things turned out very well for Joseph, and he was responsible for saving people from starvation during the famine.

³⁹Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:39-40 NKJV

¹⁶Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
¹⁷He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.
¹⁹Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
²⁰The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free.
²¹He made him lord of his house,
And ruler of all his possessions,
²²To bind his princes at his pleasure,
And teach his elders wisdom.
Psalms 105:16-22 NKJV

¹⁵When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” ¹⁶So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ¹⁷‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

¹⁸Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

¹⁹Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ²¹Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:15-21 NKJV

Things also turned out well for Job. First, he had a conversation with God where God revealed secrets of the universe. It is pretty tough to find an hour-long creation science video that doesn’t mention God’s conversation with Job.

^38:1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

³¹“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?
³²Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
³³Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?”
Job 38:1, 31-33 NKJV

Second, God blessed Job double what he had before.

¹²Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. ¹³He also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. ¹⁵In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

¹⁶After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. ¹⁷So Job died, old and full of days.
Job 42:12-17 NKJV

Sometimes difficult circumstances aren’t a result of disobedience, but simply God’s testing. We can have joy then, knowing that like Job and Joseph, the story will end well for us.

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalms 66:10-12 NKJV

Perhaps knowing how things will eventually turn out is what allows us to have joy during trials.

So let us not be too quick to judge someone in difficult circumstances – even ourselves!

Dear Father in heaven,
When things are not going well for me, please help me to discern when I need to repent and change, and when I need to rejoice because everything is progressing perfectly according to Your plan.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

James – Trials Are Joy

The book of James starts off with a bang – trials are joy.

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV

I don’t claim to fully understand how trials can be joy, but I am starting to get some insight. We (should) want to please God.

⁹For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹²giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:9-14 NKJV

Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You],
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 AMP

We need faith to please God.

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

Faith comes through the Word and is built up by prayer.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV

²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:20-21 NKJV

When I look at times of trial in my life, these have been times of increased time of prayer and meditating on the Word. Do I really, really believe that God will reward me, and He is not going to abandon me?

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

⁵Let 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.” ⁶So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV

Trials have an eternal purpose.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV

Honestly, no, I don’t yet consider trials to be joy. But I am beginning to understand that it is possible that someday I could consider trials joy.

⁷But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV

¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Romans 8:16-19 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Troubles Help Me Focus On The Eternal

I have spent a lot of time these past 40+ years trying to imagine what eternal life will be like.

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 NKJV

But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 NKJV

Trials, tribulations and suffering have their place in this life.

³And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 NKJV

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
Psalm 119:71 NKJV

I know God’s discipline is ultimately good for me, but I’m glad the Bible doesn’t require that I pretend that I like it. 😉

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 NKJV

I have had a lot of joy and happiness in my life. But meditating on what life is like now compared to what it will be like on the new earth help me put these words of Jesus into action.

“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
John 12:25 NKJV

This is especially true as I watch the world spiral into more and more wickedness.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ²For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV

I know I’m created for righteousness!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6 NKJV

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:13 NKJV

Come, Lord Jesus! I’m thankful for the life you’ve given me on this earth, but I hate it in comparison to eternal life with You!

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20 NKJV

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
John 17:3 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Trials and Troubles? Hang In There!

If there are problems in my life, does that mean I have spiritual issues causing the problems? Not necessarily. I might wish it wasn’t so, but wishing doesn’t change reality. The Bible says that in this life we will have problems.

²¹And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:21-22 NKJV

¹⁸“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.²⁰Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”
John 15:18-21 NKJV

In fact, troubles and trials can indicate we are doing things right!

¹⁰But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹²Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:10-12 NKJV

In this midst of difficulties we can be of good cheer.

“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

Someday soon it all will have been worth it!

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.
Romans 8:18 NKJV

Affliction and suffering are part of God’s plan.

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalm 66:10-12 NKJV

Affliction and suffering have a purpose – our purification!

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
Psalm 119:67, 71, 92 NKJV

James said we should take joy in trials, because of how they affect us.

²My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV

Peter also writes about the purpose of trials.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:6-9 NKJV

Jesus Himself suffered – for very good reasons!

⁴Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV

¹⁷Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:17-18 NKJV

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8 NASB

So let us “soldier on.”

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV

Pray and expect deliverance.

⁷The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalm 34:17-19 NKJV

Everlasting joy awaits!

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 NKJV

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ²Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV

Yes, it all will have been worth it!

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.
Romans 8:18 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.