God’s grace is sufficient for whatever you’re facing. If you’ll draw near to Him, suffering will ultimately bear spiritual fruit in your life and in the lives of others. As part of the Father’s divine plan, you can experience hope and joy, regardless of your circumstances.
Remember, my dear friends, if you are in Christ, no one can steal your hope. Satan wants to destroy your hope and have you despairing. No matter how extensive the ruins surrounding you, stop surveying the landscape through earthy eyes and ask the Lord to open your the eyes of your heart, so that you can see your life and the adversity you are facing through the eyes of hope.
Have you ever felt ignored by God? Have you wondered why others are blessed, while the Lord continues to allow suffering, disappointment, and hardship in your life?
Scripture records the stories of faithful believers who were able to maintain their hope in the midst of painful circumstances. The apostle Paul is a perfect example. He experienced persecution, beatings, unfair trials, imprisonment, and sickness, among other frustrations. Let’s explore what he discovered about rising above adversity.
Fulfillment in life does not hinge on our circumstances. A change in scenery will never bring lasting joy. Some people believe that personal contentment is linked to one’s circumstances. Consequently, when they become frustrated with life, they might quit their job, sell their house, divorce their spouse, or buy a new car. A little while later, they begin to feel unsatisfied again. Have you ever believed a certain circumstance would bring you contentment, and then been disappointed when it arrived and didn’t satisfy? Describe the situation and how you felt. From this experience, what did you learn and how can you apply that to your current circumstances?
God can show us how to be satisfied, regardless of our circumstances, if we will rely on Him. When we don’t find our joy in the Lord, we’ll spend the majority of our time trying to improve circumstances (or escape trial) rather than serving Christ. Having experienced all that, why did Paul say he was content? Read 2 Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 15:13.
God’s grace is sufficient during adversity. A. Paul discovered that God’s power is most evident when we are weak. God did not remove Paul’s thorn. But what the Lord gave him was far better in the long run. God granted Paul the grace he needed to endure his hardship victoriously (2 Corinthians 12:9). Weakness forces us to depend on God’s power.
A Safe Harbor is Jesus 