Have ever felt like you are being attacked from all sides? Felt like it seems everyone has gotten their jabs in on you, and you are the community punching bag? Like the enemy has got you zeroed in, and you're the center ring on the target? I feel like I have those days just about six or seven times a week!
Everyone has had those days, and you feel like they are singling you out for mistreatment or undo pain and suffering. I tell you now that any pain and suffering we feel is placed upon us as a gift. A gift? I know it sounds like I must be completely out of my mind or in serious need of counseling. Maybe so, but I believe our suffering is a reminder of the wonderful days ahead, when there is no more pain, no more suffering. No more hatred or prejudice.
Jesus suffered the most agonizing torture, beatings, and death, all to show His love for us. He knew what was coming, and He did what He was asked of Him by His Father. Out of love for us. He endured more that we could ever imagine, to show us that He knows what we go though in this life. He took the ultimate punishment that man could give. He did it willingly praising God. While we go through our lives complaining that we have too many hours to work. My boss is a jerk, how does he expect me to get all this stuff done, or the restaurant messed up my order again and how many times must I be treated like this…
Sound familiar? It does to me. I admit that I have not been the one with the most patience, and I have been guilty of some of those seemingly ridiculous complaints. But in times it seems like we are being attacked, we must remember to praise God for these times. I know, you are asking me how in the world you can give praise for troubles and times when you are being attacked. I tell you that if you are being attacked, it is because satan does not attack his friends. You are a friend, much more than that; you are a child of God. If you are being beaten and tossed around in your life, it is because God loves you and the enemy wants to do anything he can to get you to sin so he can say, look God…look at your human…he is sinning, and the punishment for sin is death! If you listen closely, you will hear Gods' response to the enemy. This person is a child of mine and the debt has already been paid. Paid in full by My Son, who gave His life to atone for all sin.
Does that mean we are free to go continue to sin? Absolutely not. We must as true and faithful servants, ask for forgiveness and do what we must to keep our faith and encourage others to build strength in their fight with the daily attacks that come without ceasing.
I ask you today, do you praise God when it is convenient and when everything is going great in your life? Or, can you praise and give thanks when you are being bombarded and all you want to do is sit in a corner and quit the world? That is the question…can you give thanks for the pain?
Stand strong my friends and praise Him for everything you have. Because we are His children, and our Father loves us!!
In Christ,
Rick
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