JUST TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH

JUST TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH

"Why would things not go on smoothly for me when I know, and I am sure, I heard from God to be where I am and be doing the things which I am involved in?" This kind of statement and many others are some of the questions we ask or the kind of questions we ask when we are faced with difficulties, problems and trials of our faith.

Human beings ordinarily don’t want any hindrance, problem or opposition. However, when we are faced with oppositions, problems, etc, there is always a protest with questions: Why me? As Christians living in this world, whenever this kind of questions flood our minds, when we come face to face with difficult challenges like hostilities, lack of acceptance, etc. we should remember that many people like Moses faced such in his assignment to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. He did not give up rather He trusted God who called him and gave him the assignment.    

               

The reason why people raise this kind of questions can be traced to two major reasons; lack of patience and lack of understanding. Taking the case study of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, we can see that they didn't understand the mind of God which led to this statement they made: "Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us" – Exodus 5:21. They thought the Pharaoh and the Egyptians will easily let them off their servitude.  

Another striking case of impatience is when the Israelites came to Wilderness of Sin. It was there they remembered the perceived pleasures they had in Egypt and made this statement: "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt; when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger" – Exodus 16:3. When they were in Egypt, they were under torture of Taskmasters who dealt treacherously with them. It was the torture that made them to cry out to God for deliverance. Suddenly, they now preferred those days to the few days they have stayed without food. Irony of life indeed!

Sometimes our faiths are tried in so many ways. It could be through opposition, it could be through unanswered prayers, delay in conception, no body coming up to propose marriage to you, no job after many years of graduating, sudden change in attitude of your spouse towards you, sickness, etc. As Christians, these and many other problems should not make us to go back to our vomit. The life outside of Christ can never be compared to life in Christ. Most things we suffer are temporal. They are momentarily affliction. They all have expiry dates but not the eternal bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven which is far greater than anything else.

Beloved in Christ, what are the things you are currently passing through? Is your new boss a torn on your flesh now? Are you facing a panel just because of your faith? Are people opposing you arbitrarily because you confess Christ in your neighbourhood, office or place of business? They are just trial of your faith. Do not let their threats dishearten and discourage you. Remember the case of Daniel and the three other Hebrew boys. Keep burning, the fire of your faith. Jesus is there to strengthen you. Again, don’t ever think people will accept you and your faith easily. You have to be patient and allow God to work out His purposes for your life at the right and appropriate time.

Your friend and Pastor

Tabugbo Uzoma