"'All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever
you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically.'
So Satan left the Lord's presence." -Job 1:12
I wonder if God and Satan ever have the above conversation about you and
I. Often things happen to us over which we have no control, that do
not appear to be a consequence of any sin or action we have taken. It
is true that doing the right things don't always equal everything
working out according to plan: God is not a vending machine - we can't
make Him to do the things we want based on our behavior. But, we can
trust Him that what He has promised will come to pass at the appointed
time. (Habakkuk 2:3)
It is during the desert times when we are most tested in our hearts. We
will continue to believe that God loves us? Will we continue to
believe and trust Him, in spite of what seems like a void of hope? Will
we continue to do the right things, "No matter what"? It is these times
when we are tested, to see if we will be found resilient in our faith.
Job was tested so greatly, he lost his business, his family, and his
health. His friends didn't understand what he was going through and
assumed he had done something to offend God. Job also did not understand
- and questioned God as to why He had to go through such hardship, even
though he thought he had done all the right things. God responded - "Do you still
want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have
the answers?" (Job 40:2) and Job repented. "I know that you can do
anything..I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to
show my repentance." (Job 42)
Righteousness doesn't always equal lack of hardship. But resiliency in
faith reserves our heavenly reward. Will you be found resilient in your
faith?
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I
will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known
only to him who receives it." -Rev 2:17
There is a lot of doubt and discouragement in our fallen world. Many
bad things happen to innocent people, and many unfair things happen to
good people. However, this doesn't give us an excuse to give up
fighting the good fight. As Christians, Jesus gives us a special edge -
the resiliency factor.
The resiliency factor, or being an overcomer, has to do with being
flexible and bendable, but not breakable. This is because we have
learned, through the power of Jesus, that we CAN overcome, and not break
when circumstances test us. The tree with no roots falls right over.
But the grounded tree with roots that sink deep into the ground merely
bends when the storms of life come its way. This tree has gone deep
into the ground to find water & nourishment. This tree is
resilient.
The Bible places a lot of emphasis on overcoming in our lives. We know
we can't overcome alone - it is the power of the cross and the Holy
Spirit's work in our lives that helps us to overcome. Also, the support
of friends and family is very important in helping us get past the
obstacles in front of us. But resiliency in the kingdom has special
merit to it - not everyone who decides to believe Jesus is the son of
God is an overcomer. There is something that separates the doubter from
the overcomer, the one who has the resiliency factor. It takes an
unwavering perspective that anything, yes, anything, is possible to
those who believe, coupled with a strong faith in God. Strong faith
says, "There is nothing bigger than my God. My God is bigger than all the giants in my life," in spite of how big our giants may seem.
Have you activated the resiliency factor in your life? I pray that each
of us may gain a resiliency in God that helps us overcome any negative
thing that comes our way, so that we might in turn become overcomers in
the kingdom of God.
