Our faith and our courage are proven and tested best under fire.
It's one thing to say that we believe. It’s one thing to know the
Bible, the laws and the right thing to do and yet a very different thing to
live by them. But live by our convictions we must!
Some people wonder if God tests our faith by causing challenges
and pain in our life. I tell them God doesn't have too.... life is filled with
enough challenges all its own. Now it is true that sometimes I think God allows
us to face certain trials and pains for one reason or another. Thankfully
out of God's grace we don't experience all the pain this life has to offer.
Thankfully by God's grace we do drive to work and back safely and the drunk
driver doesn't always hit another car.
No, I don't think that God tests us but if we are to live in this
world of troubles and sin we will face our share of pain. Unfortunately, most
of us will never become self-made millionaires who can hibernate on a deserted
tropical island far away from the idiots of this world.
In Joshua's case, as with most of the great heroes of the Bible,
trials, worries, fears, and, yes, great pain would come to him precisely
because he was confronting the evil world as a Godly leader. It is true that
sometimes Joshua's greatest defeats came as the result of his failure and the
failure of the people to obey God's word. However, his worries and struggles
were no less challenging when he was doing everything right. That is just how
life is most of the time but because we are human we don't like the world to
work that way. We want to be blessed when we've been living right and when we
mess up we understand why we get ourselves into trouble. With this thinking in
mind, when we can't see a reason for our pain, we tend to blame God and shake
our fist. God understands this of course and the Bible is filled with people
who cried out a variation of our favorite complaint,"Why me, Lord!"
I've said that a couple times over the past couple of years myself.
Yes, over and over God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.
Why? Simply because life is hard especially for those with the courage to
face the evil of this world head on. But know this, "If you are standing
for what is right, God is standing behind you and with you. If you let God, he will
also carry you."
I offer these words to all of my friends who are suffering.
Especially for those who struggle with Trigeminal Neuralgia like I have
suffered over the last two and a half years. God is with you in the pain. Pain
is not our enemy. Of course, it is not our friend either! Pain is not the enemy
but giving up and hiding out is. But God surely understands and is with us
during those times as well for God draws near to those who are in pain.
Personally, since I've received healing following a surgery in
February, I have come to the point that I am thankful for those two years. I've
learned much about myself. I didn't give up. I wish I could say I didn't
complain and do my share of hiding out. My wife would correct me if I said
that! No, I am not the ideal patient but through the pain I have learned much.
I know that I'm a much better counselor and I have much more confidence in most
areas of my life. I've learned that God is able to hold us even through the
most difficult struggles. If you can make it through Trigeminal Neuralgia, you
can make it through just about anything.
So to all my friends from the Trigeminal Neuralgia group I offer
these words: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not
be discouraged, for the LORD, your God, will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9 That truth was given to Joshua but it seems to me we can embrace
that truth as well because it comes from the heart of an unchanging God who
loves us.
To Ponder: If you lack courage, hand your cares to the Lord for
God cares for you.
These are the words of Jesus to you today: "Come to me, all
of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my
teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you
will find rest for your lives. The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy;
the load I give you to carry is light."
Matthew 11:28-30
God bless you and give you strength and courage.
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