“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20
I truly do believe my old self died on the cross with Jesus, and that Christ now lives in me. I now need to focus on the second part. I need to live my entire life in faith in Jesus. The fact that Jesus loved me so much that He died for me is more than enough reason for me to trust Him with everything, to include the remainder of my life.
Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! – Psalm 31:19
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts. – Proverbs 17:3
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. – Revelation 3:19
I am thoroughly equipped to conquer any hardship!
God took Israel the long route because He knew they were not ready for battle in Cannan at that time. So, God will only lead us into situations we are thoroughly equipped to be victorious.
Consider suffering as pure joy!
“Suffering develops holiness in unholy people.” – Bible.org
“… but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” – Hebrews 12:10
“God has one destined end for mankind—holiness. His one aim is the production of saints.” – Oswald Chambers
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” -Psalm 119:67
Suffering produces endurance, character, and ultimately hope. – Romans 5:4
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10
The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save and deliver. He will quiet you with His love and rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
“God reminds us of our frailty, so that we can rest in His sufficiency.” – Alistair Begg
“Suffering is not an accident for the believer, it is a divine appointment.” – Alistair Begg
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. – Isaiah 66:2
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalm 46:1
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. – Psalm 9:9
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. – Psalm 34:19
The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:22
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Suffering is excellent at teaching us humble dependence on God, the only appropriate response to our Creator. Ever since the fall of Adam, we keep forgetting that God created us to depend on Him and not on ourselves. We keep wanting to go our own way, pretending that we are God. Suffering is powerfully able to get us back on track.” – Bible.org
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Confidence in God gives us a backbone.” – Brian Johnson
Living Hope Ministry 