Pastor's Desk - July 2017

This Suffering Is But For A While

Jesse Alex Pastor's Desk Leave a Comment

“For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Dear brethren,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who promised His unfailing presence with us!

We are indeed grateful to God that by His grace we can enter into the second half of the ‘Year of Restoration’ rejoicing.  Thank God for His faithfulness and let’s continue to trust in Him as we journey through the rest of the year looking forward to fulfillment of His promises.  His promises are always ‘Yes and Amen’ in Christ Jesus.

If you have been going through suffering, you can start the second half of the year trusting in the infallible Word of God.   Your suffering will not last long.  It is true that suffering is a part of our life, and our Lord Jesus has called us to follow His steps, which is a way of suffering. However, pain and sufferings are not eternal, but the glory that God has promised us is eternal.

When you go through pain and suffering, the devil will whisper in your ears that they will never end.  Do not believe in his lies.  What the Bible says is the truth; and it is, your suffering is momentary.  God’s word promises that ‘Your weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.’  You can trust in it, because God’s Word is the truth.  He will surely turn your mourning into dancing.  He will restore not only your joy, but also your glory.

The wise man in the Book of Ecclesiastes said, “There is a season for everything … a time to be born, and a time to die … a time to weep, and a time to laugh … a time to mourn and a time to dance … a time for war and a time for peace.”  (Eccl.3)  There are seasons and seasons do change.  After a very hot summer, we are going to experience a season of good monsoon.  So also, we will experience changes in our lives.  The painful trials that you are going through now are only seasonal and will not last for long.  It will soon change and you will experience a new season of rejoicing.

When you go through trials, remember that God has a purpose in your life.  He does nothing without a purpose and He has a perfect plan for you.  His plan for you is not to harm you, but to prosper you; and to give you a hope and future.  Weeping may be part of your life today, but life is not always weeping.   As surely as the night turns to day, you can look forward to a day of rejoicing when you go through sufferings.  God may allow you to go through valley experiences, but He promises that He will not leave you there.  He will lead you to have a mountain experience too.  Even in the darkest night, He will be with you to give light to your paths.  He promises that He will carry you through the storms and through the nights so that you will be able to experience the unfailing love of your Father and glorify His name.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isa. 46:4)  This is the promise of an unchanging God.  Can we trust Him?

The Bible also says, “He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal.”  (Job.5:18)  That is our heavenly Father.  He not only chastens you, but also wants to embrace you and comfort you.  He took up our pain and bore our suffering.  He will heal you and He will strengthen you.  The pain that you are going through is for a moment.  It is just like the darkest night before the dawn.

 “Even the darkest night will end

And The Sun will rise again…

 So let’s hold on, let’s hold on

Let’s hold each other’s hand

Let’s hold on, let’s hold on

Together we will stand…”

As the songwriter rightly says, your suffering will soon come to an end.  Trust in God and His promises.  Hold on to Him for He will never let you fall.  As brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let us hold each other’s hand, stand together as one body and encourage one another as we face trials of many kinds.

Also do not forget God’s promise; “For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stalls.” (Malachi 4:2)   This promise is yours if you truly love and obey God.

Though you suffer today for a little while, you will rejoice one day.  When all the arrogant and evildoers will suffer in the burning furnace forever, the sun of righteousness will rise for you!  Never give up for our God is faithful!

Yours in Christ

Pastor Jacob

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