Isaiah 30:19-22 (NIV): "O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, 'Away with you!' "
If given the choice, many of us would choose to skip suffering. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot avoid suffering in this life.
James 1:2 (NIV): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
This verse does not say "if you face trials", but whenever...WHEN you face trials!
1 Peter 4:12 (NLT): "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."
No one likes to suffer. And even though we know there's benefit in it, we can often lose sight of that when we are in the midst of suffering. What are some things you should remember when God gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction.
Remember, for believers, there is always hope and joy beyond the suffering.
Psalm 30:5 (NLT): "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Remember, we have a Savior who understands our suffering and can fully identify with us.
Hebrews 2:18 (NLT): "Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."
Remember, suffering is an opportunity to practice submission before God.
Hebrews 5:8 (NLT): "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered."
Remember, what is true will remain true, even in suffering. If God is in control when you are not suffering, He's still in control when you are suffering! If God is good when you are not suffering, God is still good when you are suffering! What is true in the good times...is true during adversity!
Remember, God will sustain you in your suffering. God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. So eat the bread of adversity and drink the water of affliction so that you can be strengthened and grow. Then you will have strength to throw away any idols you may have had so you can follow God's purpose in your life.
If given the choice, many of us would choose to skip suffering. But the truth of the matter is that we cannot avoid suffering in this life.
James 1:2 (NIV): "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
This verse does not say "if you face trials", but whenever...WHEN you face trials!
1 Peter 4:12 (NLT): "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."
No one likes to suffer. And even though we know there's benefit in it, we can often lose sight of that when we are in the midst of suffering. What are some things you should remember when God gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction.
Remember, for believers, there is always hope and joy beyond the suffering.
Psalm 30:5 (NLT): "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."
Remember, we have a Savior who understands our suffering and can fully identify with us.
Hebrews 2:18 (NLT): "Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested."
Remember, suffering is an opportunity to practice submission before God.
Hebrews 5:8 (NLT): "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered."
Remember, what is true will remain true, even in suffering. If God is in control when you are not suffering, He's still in control when you are suffering! If God is good when you are not suffering, God is still good when you are suffering! What is true in the good times...is true during adversity!
Remember, God will sustain you in your suffering. God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. So eat the bread of adversity and drink the water of affliction so that you can be strengthened and grow. Then you will have strength to throw away any idols you may have had so you can follow God's purpose in your life.
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