“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1 John 5:4 NKJV
In this world we will have trouble. No amount of money, education or status stops trouble from coming our way. In spite of this world full of troubles, we don’t have to let the trouble get inside of us.
- John 14:1 New King James Version – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
The world is getting set up right now for the greatest time of trouble that the earth has ever known. The time of Jacob’s Trouble (also known as the time of Tribulation) is soon to come.
- Jeremiah 30:7 New King James Version – Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.
But until that time comes, we need to be salt and light. We cannot adopt the ways of the world. We must uphold a standard and believe God will deliver us.
We don’t have to open the door of our hearts to be troubled. We can protect our hearts from ungodly influences like social media, gossip and temptation by using discernment when choosing what to watch, what to listen to and what to flee from. Focusing on the LORD and staying in the Word of God strengthens us to take a stand against wickedness.
God wants us to trust Him. He wants us to believe in Him, and that He can and that He will help us overcome everything the enemy throws our way.
- Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Joshua once asked the LORD to make the sun stand still so he could have more time to defeat the enemy. And The LORD answered that prayer!
- Joshua 10:12-14 New King James Version – 12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; or the Lord fought for Israel.
There are times when God allows trouble to come into our lives in order to accomplish His will. God allowed persecution to come during the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection so the plan of salvation could be completed and the disciples would scatter and spread the Gospel.
- John 16:32-33 New King James Version – Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 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.”
We can still have cheer during a time of trouble and overcome it when we keep trusting the LORD.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 New King James Version – 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—