JOY IN THE FACE OF TRIBULATION   #293

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…I remember the first time I read these words in the Epistle of James, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.”, I was stunned. I re-read that sentence numerous times, and the more I read it, the more baffled I was at that claim. Even the next few sentences didn’t allay my skepticism. “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Truth be told, the impact of those powerful words never did come alive in me until Pam and I came face to face with our own tribulation about six weeks ago. It was at that time she was diagnosed with CIDP, or MS with a few extra quirks. Wow! Talk about turning our world upside down…

Jesus was very clear about what it meant to be a Christ-follower, and He never promised us a rose garden. In fact, He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But fear not, for I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33) Since this is a fallen world in which we are living, there are many directions from which that trouble might come. It can be in the form of mockery or ridicule from those who despise us for our belief in Jesus. (Remember, Jesus talked about this in John 15:18: When the world hates you, remember it hated me first.) Trouble can also result when we yield to satan’s schemes, which can lead to divorce, addictions, depression, anxiety, and suicide, or it can come in the form of disease, pain and suffering.

Whatever the source of our tribulation, we have one of two choices for our response. We can shake our fist at God and shout, “Why God? Why is this happening to me?” This, unfortunately, can lead to doubt, frustration, getting angry at God, or falling away from our faith. Our second choice is to push into Jesus as our source of strength, and rely on Him to lead us to victory. This is the path Pam and I have chosen, and the results have been nothing short of astounding.

This memorable statement from Neil Anderson’s book, “Victory Over the Darkness”, is appropriate in this scenario: “The strength of our faith is based on the object of our faith.” No doubt, trials and tribulations challenge our faith, but when the object of faith is the Lord God Jehovah, Creator of the universe, Godhead of the Trinity, the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable One, Alpha and Omega (these are His majestic qualities), and yet, He is Love, Mercy, Grace, Compassion, and Forgiveness. So, how can we not believe; how can our faith not be unshakeable?

God created us for a relationship with Himself. But in order for us to enter into that relationship, we have to come to know Him, to know what He thinks, what He thinks about us, what His plans are, what His plans are for us, what His standard is, how that standard relates to us, what His promises are, and how we receive those promises. Since we are finite human beings, and He is in the spiritual realm, how can we ever come to know Him? Quite simply, He revealed Himself to us through His Word, the Holy Bible. In that Book is everything we need for answering all the above questions, and everything we need for living life to the fullest.

Because we are in Christ, we are heir to everything Jesus Christ did on our behalf, and every promise from God concerning healing.  For instance, Psalm 107:6, 20 tells us, “Lord help! they cried in their distress, and He rescued them from their distress.” and “…He sent His Word and healed them.” God’s Word is truth, power, love, life and healing. Healing was also in the atonement: “He died for our sins and our diseases. By His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5-6)  Psalm 103 tells us “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” God also revealed His expectation for His Word: “I will send out My Word, and it will always produce fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to accomplish and will prosper everywhere I send it.” (some versions say “it will not return void.”)

Because God’s Word is truth, power, love, life and healing, and because God does not want His Word to return void, and because God Himself is the author of all of these promises, Pam and I stand on these promises and pray them aloud back to Him. Since we are heir to all the Spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm, one of which is Spiritual healing (ref. Ephesians 1:3), we claim what is rightfully ours. Now couple that with the truth found in James 4:2, “The reason you don’t get what you want is you don’t ask for it” (assuming it’s in line with His will), and 1:6, “When you ask Him for something, expect Him to answer”. All of this is to say that we know God to be faithful.  We have experienced His goodness and His faithfulness time and time again in our lives. Why would we expect any less now? As Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “All things are possible for them that believe.”

Now back to those baffling words found at the beginning of the Epistle of James. Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God’s desire for us is to march down the path of sanctification (a churchy word for becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and deeds.) It is in that process that we mature in our relationship with Jesus. Part of that growth process is facing trials and tribulations. (It is referred to in the opening Scripture as “our faith being tested, our endurance growing, and our character strengthening.”)

Part of that maturation is becoming less self-centered and more Holy Spirit centered. Remember, the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us so we can overcome tribulations in a way that brings honor and glory to Him. 2 Peter 1: 3-4 explains this process: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His divine power (the Holy Spirit) gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises.”

This is also substantiated in James 4:10: “When we come humbly before the Lord and admit our dependence on Him, He will lift us up and give us honor.” Every time we get out of the way and call on the Holy Spirit to empower us with His wisdom, strength, courage, patience, perseverance, whatever it is we need to honor God with our choices, His promises tell us He will do that! As Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just trust me!” Pam and I stand firmly on that Scripture too.

Needless to say, this is not a journey we would have chosen for ourselves… but non-the-less, here we are. But there is joy in this tribulation. Pam and I have spent more time together in prayer; we have grown closer as a couple; we are a stronger God-centered family, and we both believe, without a doubt, that she will be completely restored. We return God’s promises back to Him with the confident expectation that He delights in our faithfulness, and our unwavering trust that His Word will be manifested in Pam’s physical body.  Praise God for His unfailing love, and His faithfulness!!

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May God Bless You abundantly…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)