“If you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the One who made you, for He will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:19
Trouble never comes to any of us unless it brings rubies of wisdom or nuggets of gold in its hand – we just need to trust that. It’s when we are trusting and being still before God, that He works. When we’re in the fire is when we need the peace of God, and only when we place our hand in His is when our hearts overflow with His peace. Waiting on God when we’re in the fire sometimes seems impossible… trusting Him sometimes seems impossible… yet our flesh cries out to Him in urgent need… there seems to be a deafening silence coming from His throne. Could He be teaching us patience?
We are impatient people. If we don’t get what we want-when we want it, we sometimes tend to fight against whatever it is that God Himself has placed in our life, something He has planned in order to spiritually mature us. Impatience will come along and say, “You have to get out and do something! To continue waiting on God is time wasted. Arrogance will then come on the scene and boast, “God doesn’t want you sick (or whatever your trial may be). Just rebuke it. Walk in your authority in Christ. Claim it – keep proclaiming it’s yours!” Feelings of despair, self-pity, or cowardice may come…. “I’m just going to lay here and die, life is just too hard. I’m fighting a losing battle. Things will never change. Everything is against me”
But my friend – true faith never listens to arrogance, impatience, despair, self-pity or cowardice. Genuine faith continues to stand still, anchored to the Rock, only hearing, “Be still and know I am God.”
“As for me my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8
As Paul neared the end of his life, he could confidently say that he was faithful to his call. He faced death calmly – he knew that he would be rewarded by Christ. Is your life preparing you for death? Do you share Paul’s confident expectation of meeting Christ? The good news is that the heavenly reward isn’t just for giants of the faith like Paul, but for all who are eagerly looking forward to Christ’s second coming. Paul gave these words to encourage Timothy and us, so that no matter how difficult the fight seems, we can keep fighting. When we’re with Jesus, we’ll discover that it was all worth it 🙂