Some however, while excited in their new faith, have this perception that their faith will keep them from any trials and tribulations known to the human race. But we all know that tests, trials and tribulations are not unique only to non-believers. We all face stressors in our life. It may be financial, health issues, aging problems, children perplexities, work issues—or lack of work, ridicule or persecutions, and the list could go on for several pages.
After a week, or month or so of sufferings, the new Believer finds himself bewildered with the lack of changes in his life regarding 'the perfect life'. "How can this be?" he may ask himself, "I asked God to come in my life, why am I deluged with all this strife?!"
Being a Christian, according to God’s Word, promises us a unique kind of suffering. Satan is going to see to that, because he hates anything that is of God. Our faith, therefore, isn’t a ‘one and done’ event. It’s true, we need only be ‘saved’ once. But we are on a life long journey, requiring us to take a step at a time, which allows us to grow in our faith as we find ourselves needing to depend on God more than we could ever have imagined!
We need to be in the Word so our new life can be undergirded with the foundational words on which to build our lives. We need to know the promises found there, and the commands. We need to read the examples of the disciples and Christ himself, to get a glimpse of what we may have to endure. Further, we need to know and understand in a Christian perspective words like love, compassion, patience, kindness, mercy, understanding, family, brother, sacrifice, and many more.
As we build on these words through our daily time spent in the Word and in prayer, and embed His Word in our hearts, we will discover layer by layer has been applied to our lives, creating the ‘shield of faith’ described in Ephesian 6. This enables us to build a true relationship with The Father which helps us understand His Word and know when Satan is doing his best to deceive us in every way he can imagine.
Suffering will come, as will trials and tribulation; and perhaps even rejection and persecution as the end days draw nearer and nearer. But we can be ready, and actually, we must. If we don’t, we leave an opening for Satan to enter in and do everything he can to destroy us.
Our faith journey will never end, until we are with God in glory. Until that time, we must endure; but we aren't alone! Jesus told his disciples he would send a comforter to remain with us. So when we are under oppression of any kind, or stress, disillusionment, Satan's whims of deceit, or other kind trial or tribulation we have the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and Guide, who goes before us and remains in us! What a promise and gift on which we can rely!
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