In everything give thanks. Pray without ceasing. Those two verses make it clear that we’re to trust god in ALL times: Both in difficult times and in times that aren’t difficult. Do either of those two passages of scripture describe you? “Thy word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee. Some people find memorizing scripture easier than others, but every Christian should read the Bible, study the bible, seek out and diligently listen to God’s teachers of the Bible. And yes, memorize passages that God “quickens”, or illuminates to us spiritually.
Every athlete expects difficult workouts. Every laborer expects hard jobs. So too should every Christian should expect difficult times. That doesn’t mean expecting things to go wrong all the time. It means that God our heavenly father would like us to grow up. The Bible says “tribulation works patience”.
“Puff Graham”
You may have heard the story told by Billy Graham himself of the time when some of his friends challenged his belief that the Genesis account of creation was true. He struggled over that question. His faith was being tested. Finally Billy settled it in his mind that if God said he created the heavens and the earth, that’s all he needed to know.
Soon after that during a 1949 Graham Crusade in Los Angeles, the newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst sent a message to his many newspapers across the country saying simply, “Puff Graham”. The effect on the young preacher’s ministry was immediate. Suddenly – on the fourth day of the crusade, the tent was full of reporters and cameras. The rest as the saying goes, is history. Rev Graham later wrote that the two men never met or even talked to each other.
The Eyes of the Lord
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16.9).
Joseph’s brothers arranged to have Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt. There his wisdom gave him favor with Pharoah. When famine came, Joseph was made head of all the grain stores. The famine became so bad that Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food. Joseph saw his brothers and instead of punishing them as they all expected he would, he wept and rejoiced that they were united again. Joseph’s words to them explained why: “Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good.”
We’ve said it before here, and we’ll no doubt say it again: All of life is a test, meant both to show us where we are in our walk with the Lord, and to bring us to a higher place in him… to mature us and cause us to be stronger, more Christ-like.