30/11/2023 - BAD EXPERIENCES

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You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Psalm 71.20

A painful way of teaching us, but one that prepares us to serve God with joy and success, is when we experience temptations and trials. The scars from these remain for life. We need to meditate when this happens, because the person who hurt us enjoyed our friendship, but unfortunately chose the path of error. Never hate such a person, but pray that they repent, because their fate will be sad!

The Lord has prepared us for difficult times, saying: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16.33). Having been warned, we must not be surprised when faced with situations that involve us, but rather put into practice the recommendations of God’s Word and set out to overcome any operation of the kingdom of darkness. By saying: I have overcome the world, Jesus declares that we will also overcome.

In the world, we will have afflictions, but this should not make us sad, because we are not in the world, but in the presence of God. Jesus prayed to the Father as follows, asking us to be with Him: Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24). Forget about life’s tribulations; think about divine glory!

Jesus makes us see evil and anguish so that we can improve our behavior and give those who suffer heavenly comfort. See that the Bible says: Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1.4). Those who are comforted by God become teachers of the comforts He has to give to everyone!

Any attempt by man to lessen pain, no matter how well-intentioned, is no good. Even if the intention was good, if it doesn’t have the necessary anointing to set someone free, it can lead to hatred and not to the divine presence, as Job said: I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all! (Job 16.2). The patriarch’s “friends” didn’t help at all, they only complicated his affliction (read the entire chapter 16). Our renewal comes from Heaven!

Those who learn from Jesus react differently from those who live in the school of the world and teach as He taught. Look at what the priests’ servants said when they were sent to take Jesus prisoner: The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man (John 7:46). Christ’s teachings are free to all who want to change their lives and learn how to free the oppressed from the anguish that abounds in the world.

Get ready for the divine reward, which will give us life. The Almighty gives us His Word that He will bring us out of the depths of the earth. Our experiences did not happen to harm us, but to serve as lessons we will never forget. God is faithful!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares