From Tribulations to Restoration

Out of nowhere God called the universe into existence, and it appeared. Then God looked at His creation and saw that everything He had made was good—and very good. We are no mistake! The fact that we are here today is inevitable. Take a minute and examine your physical body and all that comes with it: eyes, ears, nose, limbs, and so on. Oh, how beautiful is God’s craftsmanship!

Imagine this! You are living a peaceful life. You are going along doing the best you can. Then all of a sudden there is a shift, and abruptly you realize you are in a storm. Although we are told to expect fiery trials, we are infinitely surprised when they occur.

Everyone seeking to live a godly life will suffer some oppression; this aspect of our mission is inescapable. Therefore, we ought not to be amazed when it comes. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16 KJV).

Our trials come unexpectedly and often catch us by surprise, but they are no surprise to God. He has already preplanned events to occur in our lives, some good and some bad. Pain, affliction, trials, infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, distresses, tribulations, mishaps, pitfalls, downfalls, misery, and strife all are unexpected mayhem that suddenly interrupts our lives. But God has a plan to bring them to a beautiful end.

Each day life would be a celebratory event if we endured no pain, no suffering, no storms! God never promised that our lives would be free from distractions. Instead He told us to rejoice in them. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12–13 KJV).

Circumstances are not death sentences; they are part of our spiritual growth experience. The reason we encounter storms is that God knows we are strong enough to handle them. Sometimes things have to go wrong before they can be made right again. We must endure some pain to enjoy the best days of our lives. Therefore, when it seems that everything is going wrong in life, stop and thank God for the many things that are going right. Magnify His name, because He’s good at all times.

The scripture confirms that we are human, and we all are subject to mistakes. Lots and lots of mistakes. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our infractions are too numerous to name, and some are too shameful to remember. Regardless of whether our suffering is due to our actions or not, the good news is, God is merciful and is willing to forgive us of our sins and restore us back to the joy of his salvation. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:12). “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).

God is the ruler of our lives, and He controls all aspects of them. No matter what we face in life, God will always have a way out for us. He is bigger and greater than our circumstances. There is nothing impossible with God, regardless of how grim the facts may appear to man. God does His best work in impossible situations. “And He said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27 KJV).

Because we cannot predict when crisis situations will arise in our lives, we must spend time building up our brothers and sisters during their times of despair. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV).

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people find pleasure in other people’s misfortunes. This moment of pleasure is usually caused by someone’s misery, and it’s heightened through gossip, chatting, or social media bashing.

We easily rob ourselves of intelligence when we allow people to feed our minds with and share derogatory information. Are some people too accustomed to going about their daily lives thinking that bad things will never happen to them? Have they become complacent because everything is going well in their lives? Have they dismissed the fact that Satan is a deceiver and no man is exempt from his diabolical schemes?

We can’t control how other people treat us, but we can control how we respond. Regardless of how we are treated or mistreated, humiliated or ridiculed, we must treat others with love and a caring heart, allowing everything we do to result in serving God and benefiting others. When we treat people with kindness, it shows our kind character and the fact that God lives within us.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, “Let me wash your face for you,” when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. (Matthew 7:2–5 MSG)