Luke 21:33-36 NLT
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
WOW!
These are the words of Jesus Christ.
Now whether or not this is what we face now or not, rest assured that these words will come to pass.
When faced with a trial, we will move in one of two ways.
1. We will resist or fight against what is happening. Our first inclination will be to turn back to our old ways.
We will want the people involved or the situation to change.
All of what we want to change is in God’s hands. In essence, we are saying to God, why are You doing this or allowing this to happen is wrong.
If we are Christians, this thinking should be replaced quickly.
Romans 9:20-23 NLT
No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.
”Don’t let your hearts be dulled…”
How do we do this?
We stay grounded in God’s Word.
Joshua 1:7-8 NLT
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Isaiah 55:11 NLT
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
We will run into trouble when we move away from God’s Word.
”Don’t let your hearts be dulled… by the worries of this life.”
Proverbs 12:25 NLT
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Turn off the news and open the Bible.
2. We will press into God and ask Him to reveal to us what we need to change in our lives to pass through and learn what we need to learn in the face of the trial.
James 1:2-4 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that 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 perfect and complete, needing nothing.
1 Peter 1:13-14 NLT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
When we press into God and start asking Him what we need to change, we put the control into our hands with God’s guidance, understanding that God won’t guide us to impart our will on anything outside of our own thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
“Wait, what? That person needs to change what they are doing in order for me to be at peace with this situation!”
No, that person is in God’s hands, and He will handle the change in that other person.
This doesn’t mean that we may not humbly go to this person gently and lovingly to discuss what they are doing and how it may be harmful to them or others, but after that is done, the results are in the hands of God.
When we start to think that we need to bring our will to bear over a situation outside of ourselves, this will lead us down a path of pride, and God stands directly in the path of any prideful thoughts and actions.
Heavenly Father, guide my thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Let them be in line with Your Will.
I pray that You reign in my heart and that You will help stay submitted and humbled to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit.
I know that the trials You send are put there to help us learn and press deeper into You.
I pray for mercy and healing in light of the challenge, we face with this Coronavirus and that You make Yourself known through Your grace and mercy.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
