Faith in Troubles

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We all experience variation in the strength of our faith. If all is well, we feel confident that the Lord is trustworthy, because we see His blessings all around us. But when troubles increase, so do our doubts about God’s faithfulness. We start to wonder whether He will ever answer our prayers for deliverance. As hard as we try, we can’t see Him working in the situation. And as our trials drag on, we begin to lose hope in God and may start looking for more reasonable ways to resolve the matter ourselves. James points us to a different perspective. Instead of thinking that the Lord has forgotten about us, he reminds us of God’s divine purpose for our hardships. They test our faith in order to produce endurance and maturity. Our Father isn’t trying to break us; rather, He wants to grow us and provide what is lacking in our spiritual life.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, May 17, 2018.

Dying is Daily

Are you letting Christ sanctify you through your pain and trouble, or are you hanging on to disappointment, anger, and bitterness?

Afflictions and trials which are externally visible seem at odds with the good that Christ is doing within every believer. Yet we are not to lose heart, because “our inner man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). It’s through our suffering that this transformation becomes most visible to others as they see Christ’s supernatural peace and joy displayed in us.

The key to contentment in every situation is a willingness to look below the surface of your pain and see both the good that Christ is working in you and the glory that is guaranteed to follow. The constant dying to self and even persecution were ways in which Jesus Christ‘s life was displayed in the apostles.

Commentary from the In Touch devotional by Charles Stanley, August 17, 2019.

I am poor and needy

Faith persevering in trial, Psalm 40.

Reblog

This is a reblog from Truth for Life, and the original post can be found at this link:

http://blog.truthforlife.org/things-not-seen-by-jon-bloom?utm_content=40428982&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

BLOG “THINGS NOT SEEN” BY JON BLOOM

“Things Not Seen” by Jon Bloom

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October 15, 2016

In the depths of suffering, it’s easy for faith to waver. Questions rise repeatedly to the surface, such as, “Why does God allow this to continue? Why are my prayers left unanswered? How long will this go on?”

When troubles come, we’re not alone in wondering if God has forsaken us.

In Things Not Seen: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Trusting God’s Promises, author Jon Bloom retells 35 Bible stories—from Abraham to John the Baptist—that reassure us that God is always present and His most profound work is accomplished through trials.

If you, or a loved one, are struggling to see past the storm, Things Not Seen offers a wealth of hope and encouragement to persevere.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” (2 Cor. 4:17)

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From Truth for Life, http://blog.truthforlife.org/

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