What Hard Times Teach Us About God

We don’t face difficult times for the fun of it. The world is broken and there is nothing

we can do to escape the tragedies that come our way but there is a hope for us in the

midst of the darkness. As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we can

be guaranteed that the Lord is with us. He won’t let us be consumed by the enemy.

Look at what happened to Daniel. (Daniel 6)

The king had intended to promote him but the governors around him were jealous

so they tricked the king into making a law that banned anyone from making any

requests to any god besides the king. But as was his custom Daniel opened his window

and prayed to God.

The jealous people saw this and took him to the king for punishment.

The penalty for disobeying the king’s command was a trip into the lion’s death.

Daniel was in serious trouble.

But in one of his darkest times the Lord never left him. He protected him in the lion’s den.

The lion’s den was the enemy’s way of destroying Daniel but instead of death, Daniel

experienced the faithfulness of God.

I also think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego and how they were in trouble when they

refused to bow down to the king’s idol. The penalty for disobeying the king’s command

was death by fire but once again, instead of dying in the fire, they saw the Son of God!

In their dark time the Lord showed up for them and delivered them in a powerful way.

I want to remind you that in your difficult times, the Lord is with you like He was with

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.

In the fire, and in the lion’s den the Lord is with you.

Trust in the Lord like they did.

As I conclude I want to share Isaiah 54:17 with you

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,”

Bless you friends

Rolain

Hope is not lost because God is with us…

“Then He said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 

Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost; we are completely cut off. Therefore prophesy and 

say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold I will open your graves and cause you to come up

out of your graves, O My people; and I will bring you [back home] to the land of Israel. 

And you shall know that I am the Lord [your sovereign Ruler], when I have opened your graves

and caused you to come up out of your graves, O My people.” 

Ezekiel 37:11-13

 

I love reading the story of the dry bones coming to life. But I love it even more now because I saw

something I hadn’t seen before. In the scripture above God tells Ezekiel the meaning of what just

happened. The Israelite’s had lost hope. They thought they were doomed.

But God wanted them to know that hope was not lost even in the bleakest of circumstances.

 

They thought all hope was lost,

 

“Behold, they say, Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost; we are completely cut off.”

 

But hope was not lost.

 

Are you in a place where you have lost all hope? Are you in a place of despair, in a place where you

can’t see a way out. I am writing this to tell you that it’s not over. As dark as things seem

the Lord will make a way for you. Don’t be afraid to hope again.

 

The Lord will breath life into your dead situation. You will live again.

The Lord is not going to sit idly by as the enemy kills, steals and destroys.

There is hope for you friend!

 

The Lord asked Ezekiel a very important question in the valley of very dry bones;

 

“Son of man, can these bones live? 

 

The answer to that was a resounding yes! The dry bones would live again. You will live again!

Hope in the Lord today. Your situation is not hopeless. The Lord is turning it around.

 

“Thus says the Lord God; Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your 

graves, O My people” 

 

Don’t abandon hope. Put all of your trust in Him and see Him do the impossible in your life.

Watch Him bring the dead back to life and turn darkness to light in your life.

 

Bless you friends

 

Rolain

Move ahead in faith…

“And the people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears

of the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the 

Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.” 

Numbers 11:1, 2

 

The Lord was with the Israelites and expected them to respond in faith but that’s not what happened.

Instead of trusting Him when things got really difficult they responded in unbelief and fear and that was evil

in the eyes of the Lord.

 

Possessing the land of Canaan was an impossible task. Giants resided there.

But no matter how impossible the task was the Lord wanted His people to trust Him. He wanted them

to be confident in His power, strength, and faithfulness.

Sadly, that never happened. The Israelites shrunk back in fear. Because unbelief and fear filled their hearts

they couldn’t possess what God promised them.

 

The Israelites couldn’t move ahead because they didn’t have faith. Instead, they were pushed back because

of their unbelief. And that’s what unbelief and fear will do if you entertain them. They will push you back when

you are supposed to move forward.

 

“Then the Amalekites came down and the Canaanites who dwelt in that hill country and smote the Israelites

and beat them back, even as far as Hormah.” 

Numbers 14:45

 

The Lord doesn’t want us to be pushed back. The enemy wants that. God wants us

to move ahead in faith. It’s faith in God that will allow us to defeat the giants standing in our way.

It’s faith in God that will enable us to tell mountains to get out of the way as we make our way to the place

God has promised.

Because God is with you,

you can move forward confidently no matter how hard the journey is, and no matter

how intimidating the enemy is. Don’t let fear and unbelief dictate your response to God.

Always respond in faith!

 

Bless you, friends!

 

Rolain

Having a good attitude when things are bad…….

What is your attitude like in difficult times, when things, are going wrong for you, when nothing

seems to be working in your life? I have been thinking about this today and I think it’s

so critical what your attitude is like.

I am being tested in this at the moment. Things are really bad in my country at the

moment and it’s so hard to have a good attitude in the midst of what’s going on.

Just because it’s easy to have a bad attitude doesn’t make it right to have one. A bad attitude

doesn’t cultivate faith, hope, and peace. It cultivates the exact opposite.

 

Having a good attitude in the midst of hardships is critical.

Look at Paul for example. He went through a lot of difficult things. He had every reason to have

a bad attitude towards life but he didn’t. There is a difference between being discouraged and having

a bad attitude and I think Paul did have days when he was discouraged but I don’t think he had a bad

attitude in the trials he was facing. His focus was on God who was His strength and help.

 

“Are they serving Christ? I am serving Him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much 

harder than they. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been 

near death many times. Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.

Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time they tried to kill me with stones. Three times

I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times i spent the night and the next day in the sea. 

I have gone on many travels. And I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, 

the Jews, and from those who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places no one lives, and on 

the sea. And I have been in danger with false brothers. I have done hard and tiring work, and many times

I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and 

without clothes. Besides all this, there is on me every day the load of my concern for all the churches.” 

2 Corinthians 11:23-29

 

He also said,

 

“We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not

give up. We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.” 

2 Corinthians 4:8, 9

 

“Always be happy. Never stop praying. Give thanks whatever happens. This is what God wants for you

in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16

 

Bad attitudes have a way of twisting how we see life. It blinds us from seeing God’s hand in our

life and gets us focusing on the negative. Instead of being joyful and being a light, a bad attitude sucks

the life out of us and makes us sharp and painful towards others. Instead of speaking words of

healing we cut down and kill with our words.

Ask for the Lord’s help when you have a bad attitude because it has to go. (I am speaking to myself

too)

A person with a good attitude sees the total opposite. Even when the storm is raging the person with

a good attitude sees God always! He or she will always be optimistic when everyone else is being pessimistic.

It’s hard to move in faith when you have a bad attitude.

Remember the solider in the story of the four lepers in the old testament? (2 Kings 7:3)

He failed to believe the word from Elisha in a time of famine. That is an apt picture of how destructive a

bad attitude is.

 

And with all that I will conclude. Have a good attitude in life. You won’t get far in life with a bad attitude.

This is my challenge to you.

Blessing to you all.

 

Rolain

 

 

 

You will remain standing at the end of the day…….

As I look back at the year and look at all that has happened I can’t help but

thank YAH. There have been good things that have happened as well as bad things

but the thing that matters is that I am standing!

I was speaking to a friend of mine recently about the challenges he and his

family were going through. It was a hard year for them but once again YAH

came through.

I would like to share a scripture that I read this morning which I have read many

times but really came alive this morning for me which encouraged me concerning

the trials and storms we face,

 

“We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers;

the snare is broken, and we have escaped!”

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:7, 8

 

No matter what kind of trap the enemy sets we are like the bird spoken about

in the verse. YAH always rescues us!

We always escape! The trap will not accomplish its purpose.

No matter how difficult a situation is, YAH will deliver us.

No matter how foolproof the enemy thinks his plan is it will not succeed.

 

As I look back at some of the storms I have been in I am amazed how I survived.

I was not supposed to survive but I did! It’s only by His grace that I am here.

 

Be encouraged friends. There is a way out of the deep waters you are in.

YAH has a made a way out. Don’t lose hope!

Trust Him in the storm you in.

 

Our help is in the name of the Lord!!

 

Rolain

 

 

“Get me out of here”!!!!

“Only think of me when it goes well with you, and please

show me kindness by mentioning me to Pharoah and get me

out of this house.

For in fact I was taken (stolen) from the land of the Hebrews

by [unlawful] force, and even here I have done nothing for

which they should put me in the dungeon.

Genesis 40:14, 15

 

I think you will agree with me that life gets crazy at times.

Being in the place God has called you to be is not easy at times.

There is joy, happiness and memorable moments but there is

the other stuff. There is the stuff that doesn’t make sense.

There is the stuff that makes you doubt what God told you.

There is the stuff that wants to make you throw in the towel….

 

Yes, I am talking about the call of God. All this stuff, the good,

the bad define purpose! Joseph knew this so well.

There was a time he wanted out! He felt betrayed and unfairly

treated. He was confused and hurt.

 

Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and

he placed the cup in Pharoah’s hand. But he hanged the chief

baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Yet the chief butler did not mention Joseph, but forgot him.

Genesis 40:21-23

 

It would take two years before the butler remembered Joseph.

It wasn’t easy for him. He had to overcome a lot of things

on the road to fulfilling his purpose. He had to forgive a lot

of people. There was a lot of growing up that had to

happen. It was intense…..

 

“Now two sons were born to Joseph before the years of famine

came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,

bore to him.

Joseph named the firstborn, Manasseh (causing to forget),

for he said, God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship

and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.

Genesis 41:50, 51

 

All I want you to see are the hard times Joseph went through.

God had a plan in the midst of the pain and hardship.

The story of Joseph is one of my favourites. It reminds

me that no matter how bad things get, God has a plan.

When things seem at their worst, He has a plan. Don’t

give up. Don’t throw in the towel. When the odds are

stacked up high against you look to God. You are not

enough on your own! God will bring you through…..

 

We need to trust in His goodness friends. God is so good.

He is not partially good. He is all good. He has good things

in store for you. The fire you are in will not consume you. You

will come out victorious. There will be good times. There will

be laughter. There will be joy. He will fulfill what He planned for

you…..and that’s a promise!

 

Rolain

 

photo credit: google images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God has a plan for you but when does it start…..???

 

I was thinking about destiny today. When did Israel start walking in what God called them to do?

Was it in Egypt or maybe in the desert? It must have definitely started when they got to the land of milk and honey! That is what I thought for a long time. Everyone has a land of milk and honey to get to. That is our destiny right?

When did Moses start walking in what God called him to do? Was it when he was growing up in Pharaoh’s palace or was it when he was living in the desert with Jethro? It must of being when he went back to Egypt and God used him to deliver the Israelites!! It must of being when the Israelites got to the promise land and crossed it….that must be it!

From these two scenarios we see the dilemma of destiny. When did God’s plan for these and more people start?

To answer that question I will have to tell you about my week. My week was sort of ok (whatever that means) but I was thinking to myself how I would love it when things start happening concerning my destiny. I was looking forward to that day. That day when I am doing all God has called me to do. It would be glorious I thought but I was wrong because another thought came to mind. Maybe it was God maybe it was just me but what came to mind as I was thinking all this was, YOU ARE ALREADY LIVING YOUR DESTINY!!

Moses destiny started before he was even born. Everything that happened to Israel prior to Moses being born happened in a way that God could use him specifically. God had a plan for Moses a long time before he was born and that plan started back then! It did not start when he was born.

 

 

“Then Joseph died and all his brothers-that whole generation. But the children of Israel kept on reproducing. A new king came to power in Egypt who didn’t know Joseph. He spoke to his people in alarm. There are too many of these Israelites for us to handle.  Exodus 1: 6-8 

When we get to the book of Exodus and read these scriptures we get excited because we know Moses was about  to be introduced. The Israelites did not see it like that though. Life was hard, extremely hard and they had no idea God was about to perform a miracle. The way we know what Moses was going to do before his story starts is the same way our lives are. You may think life is hard and difficult and challenging and impossible with no hope of rescue but know that God has a plan. You are living in the path He has set out for you. You are walking in your destiny now! Be patient, trust and you will see what He will do.

Another scripture to read is Genesis 15: 12-15:

Then the LORD said:

Abram, you will live to an old age and die in peace. 

But I solemnly promise that your descendants will live as foreigners in a land that doesn’t belong to them. They will be forced into slavery for 400 years. 

But I will terribly punish the nation that enslaves them, and they will leave with many possessions. 

In that scripture we see a part of God’s plan for Moses! God was talking about him to Abraham!! God didn’t mention his name but that’s who He was thinking about. He knew about the slavery and knew about the deliverance. He knew He would call Moses and Aaron to carry out His plan! Isn’t that amazing?? And that was far back as Abram!!!!

 

So what does all this mean? As I was discouraged about the season I was in now I realized I was already living my destiny. Yes it’s hard and yes it’s difficult and yes it’s confusing but I am living in my destiny now. The pain, and difficulty, and confusion is part of my destiny. My destiny does not start when I get to the land of milk and honey but it started in Egypt! When I was in the wilderness I was walking in what God had planned for me. Before I was born His plan for my life was activated. And that goes for you to. You may be going through hard times but know you are walking in God’s plan for you.

Joseph may have hated being sold into slavery by his brothers and he may have thought he had no destiny but he was wrong. When his brothers sold him into slavery he was in God’s plan. Through all the hard and testing times he went through he was living out what God called him to. His destiny had been activated a long time ago! It didn’t seem like it but that was the reality!

I was filled with hope when I got this realization. I may be going through hard times now but I am living in my destiny now. The hard times complete the picture. I hope that all makes sense. God has a plan for you and it started a long long time ago. What you are going through now is not in vain. God sees and He has a plan for you. Trust Him…..

 

Rolain