HOW TO PREVAIL WITH GOD IN DIFFICULT TIMES
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Often we wonder… why do we go through trials? Why do we need to endure troubles? Why does our Almighty God not spare us these difficult times? He always has a purpose. All we experience is sifted through His sovereign hands. He wants us to learn from these times of darkness and distress. For He uses our trying times as a means for our spiritual growth.
Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet used mightily by the Lord. Yet God had to teach him an all-important lesson before He called him to a higher calling… a calling to become an active participant in the high purposes of God. Jeremiah needed to learn to triumph in his trials… to prevail with his Lord.
Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5
God places upon Jeremiah the high calling of prophet to the Almighty. He sets him apart to be His spokesman to His chosen people. Jeremiah speaks words of warning to the people of Judah who have broken their covenant with God. Their persistent sin and abandonment of Yahweh will cause Him to withdraw His blessings… if they do not repent and return to Him.
As Jeremiah preaches powerful words against the nation, he faces persecution from its people. He especially faces hostility from those in his hometown of Anathoth… even his own family. The harassment, rejection and threats of death he encounters cause him to become emotionally and spiritually weary from the trial…
Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? – Jeremiah 12:1
Jeremiah questions God as to why these evil people prosper while ignoring Him and His ways. The Lord promises that He will come against those who come against His chosen prophet. He will take care of His own. Yet God poses a question for Jeremiah…
If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? – Jeremiah 12:5
If Jeremiah withers under the pressure of smaller challenges as God’s prophet, how will he fare when faced with greater trials in the future? How will he deliver God’s message when times of persecution become more intense? He may now be contending with people of his own hometown (footmen)… yet will soon face enemies (horses) in Jerusalem who will tyrannize him for his message.
Jeremiah is overwhelmed in a time of relative peace. How will he do when the Babylonians come to conquer the land? The enemy will soon overflow into Judah… much like when the Jordan River overflows its banks at harvest time, sending lions from their lairs to endanger the countryside. Jeremiah needs to be strong to endure the more challenging trials ahead.
I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you. – Jeremiah 15:20
The Lord promises Jeremiah that if he will be His spokesman and speak His words boldly, He will strengthen him for the challenge. If His prophet does not succumb to fear, He will give him courage to withstand any future persecutions. If Jeremiah will place complete trust in Him, God will be by the prophet’s side, his fortified wall of bronze and his Rescuer. In God, Jeremiah will triumph in his trials.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 124:8
What can we learn from this great prophet of God? There is no question that we will face trials in our lives. It is in these times of distress and darkness that we often learn the greatest lessons. Perhaps we find ourselves complaining about our troubles… seeing others breeze through life without a care while ignoring God. We wonder why we are facing difficult times, mistakenly believing we are the only ones.
Yet without trials to overcome, we cannot learn to prevail with God. With Him, we can weather any of life’s storms. He is greater than any trial we will ever face. Amidst times of trouble, we can struggle through on our own… or look to our all-powerful God, our fortified wall of bronze, who will fight our battles for us. In Him, we place our absolute trust to be our Rescuer.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. – Psalm 20:7
God does not bring trials our way. Yet He may allow them in our lives because He understands the growth that will come through them. In difficult times, as we look to our sovereign God for help, He will strengthen us and deepen our faith. If we do not succumb to fear, He will grow our courage to face even greater trials when they come our way.
God is in our midst throughout our trials. He will forever take care of us, His children. Facing times of trouble with steadfast faith can be an inspiration to others who are facing challenges in their lives. They see our trust in our omnipotent Lord to save us. When we triumph in our trials, prevailing with our God, we glorify Him for all the world to see.
† Eternal Takeaway – God is greater than any trial we will ever encounter †
