(Daniel 3:17-18) “Your majesty, if it be his will, our God whom we serve can deliver us from the blazing fire furnace, and he will deliver us from you. But if not, rest assured, your majesty, that we won’t serve your gods, and we won’t worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4) “There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven:… a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
Ask any elderly person and they will confirm to you that one thing in life never changes, and that is that everything changes. Life is full of change and there will always be ups and downs in life. Changes in relationships, jobs, financial situations, emotions, friends, churches, countries of residence, and even your level of faith and commitment to God.
This last one, faith, is the only one that will determine your outcome after all the challenges in life and is something that we need to make sure we nurture and strengthen with time. God says that your faith is more valuable than gold or silver and it will stand the test of time alongside hope and love.
Even when all things seem to go your way and there is favor around every corner, you need to continue to be strong in your faith as you are being prepared through your time of blessing to stand firm for the next challenge. God shows us favor, miracles, blessings, and prosperity in times of need so that when the next time of need or depression arises, we will remember how He pulled us through the last one.
Don’t be shocked if after a challenge there is victory and after that victory a greater challenge. God needs you to go through these ups and downs so you don’t get too comfortable and let down your guard. You might think that this is unfair, but keep in mind that no matter what the struggle is, God will never tempt you beyond your capacity to handle it.
In other words, He is concerned about your victory through every time of trouble and has provided a way out. God wants you to be an overcomer, not a quitter or someone that backs down when things don’t go your way.
(“There are three levels of faith. The first level is: ‘Our God is able.’ Most of us can manage to believe that. The second level is: ‘And He will!’ A lot of us wish we could believe that, but we’re not sure. The third level is: ‘But if not.’ That’s the highest level of all! It says ‘But if not now or in the way I want of if not at all – I’ll still trust God!” – Bob Gass)
Most people don’t leave God’s hand when they are walking low in the valley, but rather when everything is working out for them and they feel on top of the mountain.
Prayers
• Heavenly Father, You are He who established the world firmly. We can appeal to the years of the right hand of the Most High. The number of Your years cannot be discovered.
• Thank You, Father, that You know the beginning from the end.
• Thank You that there is no temptation greater than our faith and greater than our willpower to reject it.
• Thank You for always providing a ray of hope whenever we pass through a tough situation.
• No matter what we face, we declare that You can deliver us.
• Teach us how to discern that time we are facing and to wait patiently, knowing that You are in control.
• Give us peace when we face the changes in life that You have planned for us.
• We declare that we will continue to put our trust in Your promises, both in our good and bad times.
•
• We ask in Jesus’ Mighty name. Amen