Afflictions are an important part of the life of a true man or woman of God and these can cause us pain and sadness, however, they can not steal us the joy in our Lord. We are troubled, afflicted and going through the worst difficulty but confident in the Christ of glory which covers us and gives us the strength to continue.
Afflictions can not stop the joy that we have in the Lord, although, to sincerity, sometimes we will feel that joy goes away and we feel ourselves in deep darkness and we even ask: Where is God? But, at times like these, God also asks us: Where are the Elijahs of God?
The apostle Paul said:
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-20
A certain preacher said: “If this world is the best, why wait for another?” And this is completely what we must understand, Jesus said:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
The Bible also tells us in the book of Hebrews chapter 11 about a series of people who went through various trials, of which we may never have passed, however, it also tells us that these people waited in a city whose architect and builder is God.
Let us have confidence in the Lord we too, like those men of faith, who regardless of being in the lion’s den, in a cistern, Jezebel persecuting them, stoned, persecuted, hated by all, crucified, even so, they always kept the joy of the Lord in their lives.
