Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. — Psalm 34:19
If you are like me, you have seen religious leaders talk about living the Christian life and all the blessings of it. It is true that there are many blessings that come along with the submission of our lives to God. Some would have you believe that this faith gives you the fast track to health, wealth, and happiness, which simply isn’t the case. Nothing about accepting Jesus Christ and having faith guarantees wealth and happiness in this world.
This is seen all throughout the scriptures. Some of the most notable figures in our Bible all suffered in their lives. They went through difficulties. They suffered from bad health, the loss of loved ones, temptation, bad decisions, and at the hands of others. There are others who lost all that they had. Those in scripture ranged from wealthy to unhealthy. No one is exempt from potential suffering and difficulties in life.
The encouragement is that even though we may not be blessed with health, wealth, or perhaps the happiness that the world claims are happiness, we are blessed by God in a unique way. The psalmist is not writing to say that those who follow God suffer more. It’s an acknowledgment that suffering will happen. Trials will happen. Difficulties are going to come.
Yet we have one on our side who is greater than anything this world can put in our way. The trials can come, but God will overcome them. Difficulties may arise, but God has already seen those in our path and has made a way forward through them. We often pray that God will remove these things, and many times He does. If He doesn’t, we have a promise that we will still be better off in the end. He has a home prepared for us that eliminates all those difficulties and sorrows of life.
Don’t be discouraged or upset when you find yourself in difficulties. They are a natural part of life. Rejoice in the fact that you have a God who has overcome anything this world can throw at you. He has already seen what is in your way and has developed a plan to help you through it. It may not always be like we want, but it is a promise He has guaranteed! No matter the situation, He will deliver us from them all.
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