REST UPON HIS PROMISES

REST UPON HIS PROMISES

The Scriptures tell us that adversities are not chance occurrence; that they as well as our so-called blessings all come from the Hand of God.

The Bible in the Book of Hebrews remarkably speaks of God’s discipline which may come in the form of hardships or difficulties. “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline) then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:7-8)

God’s Word is consistent in telling us that calamities and good things come from God. God is Sovereign. He is in control of everything no one can question Him or hold back his Hand. God is God and He alone can produce good, out of even the worst of disasters, calamities, pain, sorrow even death, and give life even to the dry and lifeless bones.

Listen to what the Prophets says, “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3:37-38)

“When disaster comes to a city has not the Lord caused it.?” (Amos 3:6)

“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

Suffering, like all other human experiences, is directed by the sovereign wisdom of God. In the end, we learn that we may never know the specific reason for our suffering, but we must trust in our sovereign God. That is the real answer to suffering.

The Christian faith is a suffering faith. (See Philippians 1:29-30) While our Lord was on this planet He offered prayers and pleadings with loud cry and tears. He prayed to be rescued from death. His prayers were heard. He learned obedience from the things He suffered. (Hebrews 5:7-8)

Some people, Christians and unbelievers alike, have difficulty with this truth and even deny it or use it as arguments against the existence of a loving God. They cannot believe that a God of love is responsible for either the individual or public disasters that come to us. They refuse to believe that a loving God disciplines His children for their good and does this out of His very nature as a good and loving Father.

But the clear testimony of Scriptures stand against all our protestations or feeble theological attempts at softening His Word. We need to recognize the Hand of God in all the adversities we encounter, and fully yield to His Higher purpose through these trying times. As mere mortals, we are not in a position to demand explanations, from the Almighty God of Creation, but only rest upon His promises.