JESUS in difficult times
“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.” John 17:14-NLT
The year is finally coming to an end. Everybody is interested in making excessive profit in this festive season. The Christian and non-Christian alike are caught up in the same heat. But do we have something that separates our difficult moments? Surely we Christians are fortunate and have better chances of being victorious simply because of Jesus. The Jesus factor is all that matters.
In the course of the year, the Lord has been faithful and continues to be faithful to us in all our endeavours. There have been very interesting moments that we have praised the Lord for the wonderful surprises He has ushered into our lives this year. I can equally imagine some of us have been so frustrated and disappointed about some of the events unfolding in our lives too as Christians in the same year.
In those times, we seldom have time for the Lord. It’s more or less like we have forgotten the hand that holds us or the shoulders we lean on. If only we could remember the relief we had every time we poured our hearts in prayer to the Lord in those difficult times, surely we will understand and appreciate the Jesus factor in the troubles of the world.
Beloved brethren in the Lord, I may not be the perfect example in appreciating Jesus in difficult times but I can confidently say I am always relieved anytime I go to the Lord in prayer in such times. The feeling is more like a burden lifted off my shoulders.
So as the year comes to an end, make every effort to go to the Lord no matter how difficult your year turned out. Pour out all the bitterness, anger, disappointment, hatred, failures, frustrations, contempt among many others at the cross of Jesus. Then take Jesus on a ride to count your blessings – i.e. the little moments of joy you had, the favours you didn’t deserve, the opportunities that came your way, the assurance of God’s salvation when you met unbelievers, the illness that didn’t kill you but your neighbour, the accident that never touched your family, etc.
Then you will know and understand it had all been about the Jesus factor. Do we know what makes us true Christians? It is when we take heart and give thanks to God in our difficult times because that’s the only moment when we see God for who He is – King of kings and Lord of lords.
Today, the Lord is speaking to us about Jesus in difficult times. Let’s relate to this message and put Jesus back to where He belongs (in our hearts) if we feel He is far off. Through that, we can find the heart to thank God for His amazing blessings over our lives this year. Surely we cannot count our blessings if we don’t have He who blesses (Jesus). May God bless us as we see Jesus in our difficult times. Amen.