UPS AND DOWNS
11th May 2022
“When you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.” is 2 Corinthians 1:7 in The Message. This was in my Bible reading yesterday and I found it profound.
Sometimes we feel that God is with us when things are going well and our prayers are being answered quickly, but when things are going against us, and we find it tough going, then we wonder where is God in all this?
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The enemy is always against us, stealing our peace and making life difficult, but Jesus is always there seeking to bring our life into abundance and joy.
When our children were small and they were going through difficult times at school and with friends, we would always tell them, “Life is not fair.” Things don’t change as we grow older, but as the verse says above, when we are willing to endure the hard times as well as the good - we will make it.
When Paul was complaining to God about the “thorn” that was attacking him, which was probably some kind of persecution, God did not remove the offender, but said, “My grace is sufficient for you, My strength in made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I have also been reading the book of Judges. God’s people were always messing things up and bringing great trouble on themselves, but amazingly when they cried out to the Lord, He sent them a deliverer, like Deborah and Gideon. God was always gracious, He didn’t say, “You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out of it!” He was ready to rescue and to deliver them.
It is just the same with us. Life does have its ups and downs and yet as we cry out to God, he doesn’t blame us for our foolishness or for our neglect, He steps in with His grace, love and peace. He also pours in His wisdom and shows us the way though.
by Charles Sibthorpe
