Enduring Through Trials

In the times we are living many are experiencing difficulties in their lives and wondering what is taking place.  Many have noticed that something is wrong, but they aren’t sure what or why and what they can do about it.  Chances are, if you are reading this, you are looking for answers to the dilemmas you are facing. I encourage you, the reader, to continue reading on so as to find balance and purpose in regards to what you may be experiencing right now.  It is not a coincidence you are here and it is not a coincidence what you are going through.  It all has meaning.

 

In short, God is at work to get your full-on attention as He does not desire any should perish in what is coming upon the earth.  In short, if you think that what you are going through now is bad, it is pale in comparison to what is coming.  When Covid began, many were losing their jobs as a result of the lockdown.  We can go over theories of what is really going on as to whether it was by design to bring about the changes spoke of in Revelation 13, Luke 21 & Matthew 24 specifically, (and perhaps I will do this in a later blog to shine light on it) but in essence, the Lord is getting your attention as He desires to refine our faith in what is to come.  In short, you have been placed in what would be considered ‘the wilderness.’  In the wilderness, you will be put through many difficult and trying situations to test and refine your faith in our Lord through trial and error.  These are also known as enduring trials so that you have faith to weather the coming storm. 

 

These trials can concern, but are not limited to; family, friends, financial hardship (debt & lack), jobs, living situations, relationships and so on.  Through these trials we are tested how we react to what is happening in order to face conviction in our hearts as a means to repent from sin and turn to what really matters -our eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.  The Lord also refines our faith so as to show us how to truly trust Him.  Many who go into these wilderness seasons have a conclusion made up in their minds that because they are saved, they should not have to endure them.  While it is true that you are saved by your belief in the testimony of Jesus Christ, that is not entirely the same as true faith where it comes to trusting the Lord to provide in difficult times which we have now entered.   What He is teaching you is how to truly trust Him and that my friends are what the Christian faith is all about -it is not just the belief in the testimony of Christ Himself.  Consider it a joy however, because through these trials He is pulling you closer to Him for your own sake and you will come out stronger on the other side.

 

In my personal experiences, I have known many who say they have great faith but as soon as hard times come upon them and the life of plenty and easy-living disappears, they complain like crazy and turn to the World.  This is not a judgment because anyone who has been through a wilderness can testify that before they realized what was happening, they did the same, myself included.  Let’s be honest, we’re all people who have a tendency to turn to what is familiar (sin) before we fully understand we are being called by the Lord in whichever way He desires to refine us.  Only God knows what is in our hearts, what trials are required to reach and refine and only the Lord can heal us. 

 

When we begin to reflect what went wrong and where, seek the Lord to give us a new heart and begin to heal us and this begins with repentance from the sins that we may not have been initially aware of.  For many of us, after enough reflection, if we knew Christ before and backslid, we can generally recognize what must change.  That is His conviction working within us and pleading for us to return to Him.  However, I encourage you the reader that if you are not sure what needs to change in your life to take a step back, humble yourself before God and ask Him to show you the sin He would have you repent from.  He can give you dreams or cause situations to arise that bring about conviction in the spirit.  I have experienced both. At the beginning I said some bold and dangerous prayers.  In less than a day, the Lord began to reveal to me what He desired I repent from.

 

I need to be clear that this does not mean you are going to get it right on the first try.  You could do well for months repenting from a sin but then in that moment where you are overwhelmed with trials, these are part of the tests which indicate whether further refining is necessary.  There will be times you trip up in the beginning -at least there was for me.  It is not like turning off a light.  Now, are there miraculous examples?  I’m sure there are, as I have faith God can do whatever He wants with whomever He pleases but for the most part, that’s usually not the way it works.  It is a spiritual growth and learning experience tied into one.

 

When your mind and spirit have been polluted with years of adultery, drugs, idolatry, lust, pride, heavy drinking, sexual sin (yes that includes pornography and ‘self-gratification’) -these are not just healed overnight.  You may think some of these sins are harmless but they hurt God and, in the end, they will hurt you if you continue.  You do not want to be given over to a reprobate mind which means you are beyond the point of repentance. 

 

Jesus did not suffer, shed His blood, and die for our sins so that we could keep going on living in continuous sin and anyone telling you it’s okay to keep sinning because everything is already forgiven is contrary to the Word of God.  Judgment is befalling this nation due to such antics and the Word is very clear on what comes to those twisting the Word of God in this way.  The point of recognizing the above problems are the first steps in repentance and the more you spend time in prayer and worship, the more you fill your heart with God’s Holy Word.  He will clean you up. 

 

This my friend, is the spirit of repentance and at first it may seem like nothing is happening, but this is providing you do not throw in the towel and just give up.  As long as you feel shame, the spirit of repentance is on you and if you fall down a few times, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going. Tripping up at first does not mean you are a failure.  Some folks require more work than others; It is a continuous improvement.  Satan’s greatest lie is to convince you that you have failed so that you will give up -don’t let him win!

 

There were times in the beginning, I too, felt like a complete failure but through it all, because I really was seeking to do good while shedding many tears, the Lord reminded me of His love and mercy for me, whether it was sin I was repenting from or trials I was going through.  For me, the Lord worked on one at a time.  I asked Him why and He revealed to me that if he put the pressure to give up everything all at the same time, it has the potential to set us up to fail and that is not what God is in the business of doing.  For you it may be different.  It depends how much sin needs to be cleansed from your life but nothing is impossible. The Lord is very patient when you are working to clean up your life so I encourage you to stand strong and seek the Lord for everything and He will set your path straight and guide your steps.  You would be surprised some of the worst sinners are now in ministry because they teach examples they have had to endure and this brings God more glory for each individual whom is willing to give up their sins, pick up their cross, and follow Jesus.

 

Since I have already written a blog on repentance, I am not going to go much further on that in this entry but the reason I mention it under this blog in regards to trials is because it is very easy to slip in to more sin in the face of hard times, especially when you don’t recognize what you are going through and you seek comfort and purpose. In these trials, it is the exact opposite of sin that you should be seeking.

 

Now that I have covered the introduction and mentioned the temptation to sin out of these trials, I would like to demonstrate how some of the trials may manifest.  In fact, the only way I know how to do this is to share a few of what I have gone through.

 

My patience, for months on end, has been greatly tested.  Throughout all of this I have not held a job because it was already hard enough to try to get one before Covid struck.  Once that occurred several people lost their jobs.  So now the competition is just off the charts.  What I didn’t know at the time was that the Lord was pulling me out of the workforce.  At first, I could not understand why but let’s just say with news of a digital currency, testing of injections which supply information about you, and the great reset, it became clear to me why.  Our World is racing toward the mark of the beast and what you see happening now is an ‘experiment’ to guage compliance of who will conform to the beast system. Many people are going into the wilderness now so that they will have the faith to endure and rely upon the Lord in the coming times.  This system is about to go live, all the signs are there.  It’s just a question of when and which event will be used to usher it in.  As Christians, we are not to comply.  In the interest of time however, I’m talking about things going wrong in my home that needed repair when I didn’t have the money, things breaking such as electronics, computers, and having the need to pay bills and still be able to eat.  On top of these, what I perceived to be the utmost disrespect.

 

Situation 1: I have allowed my younger brother to drive my car since I have been unemployed as I did not just want it to sit in the garage.  He does not take care of it and sometimes has driven under the influence.  He won’t get it washed nor take it for an oil change.  I have harped on him for MONTHS to take out a loan to buy it as I do not want to be tied to it any longer but I also do not feel I should take a total loss on it.  The registration and plate expire in less than one month.  He still has not done anything.  Much of this is attributed to his drinking because it can make someone become lazy and indifferent.  Be that as it may, it is not my place to pass judgment as I had my own drinking problem for a number of years (I get into the judgment of others in the next blog and why not to).  I have been overly worried about it and what I’m going to do so much at times we have had fights over it. 

 

I began crying out to the Lord about this some months ago.  In my spirit, the Lord told me to let it rest.  What this means is that I have given my brother every opportunity (mercy) to make this right and do what he needs to do and when the tag expires, if he has not done what he needs to, the plates will come off and he will not have a ride at all.  The Lord tells me not to let it make me upset.  So I’m going to be obedient and trust the Lord that the cards will fall where they may.  Perhaps such a situation will bring about conviction in my brother’s heart whom I pray for all the time that change through repentance comes about.  I have to be careful due to my calling, not to be judging and unmerciful given that the Lord has had great mercy on me.  I have given it to the Lord as I cannot have peace if I continue to allow this situation plague me day in and day out.  It is important to remember that, the Lord will give people over to their own sins if they do not change.  Now this is not my place to say what will occur in this situation, but, in my blog I am posting after this re: judgment I mention that every test is not always about us.  Sometimes it is also concerning the other person involved in the situation.  So, we need to be very careful with these types of tests.

 

Situation 2 (and this coincides with situation 3):  Once a week, my older brother and I clean the house, usually by separating the chores evenly.  He may do the floors, and I will clean the bathrooms, bathe the dogs, and pick up the dog waste in the backyard.  We switch off from time to time.  My younger brother (the one I mention above) can barely keep his room clean, which aside from respecting the common areas, is really all I ask him to do.  The room smells so bad at times between food containers and his cat’s litter box that I have to keep the door closed and open the window so the rest of the house doesn’t stink.  I have had several mature talks with him about his cleanliness habits on top of the car situation I mention which he admits he needs to do better but then continues on in the same habits. 

 

Because my brother drinks so much and eats like a bird, his hair is literally falling out.  We had to purchase a drain guard after a plumber cleared the drain.  I told him it was his responsibility after taking a shower to clear this hair trap so the water could flow because when dirty scummy water can’t drain it leaves a film on the bottom and the sides of the bathtub that needs to be scrubbed with Comet and a brush to get it off.  For whatever reason, it slips his mind to do this each and every time he takes a shower so much so that I find it disrespectful to leave it that way when me and my older brother also use that bathroom and there seems to be no consideration where we are concerned given that we are the only ones who clean it.  Recently (and this has happened many times over the months) after I had scrubbed the bathtub I found the trap filled with hair and ontop of that, the toilet had been used to do number 2 and then not flushed.  Folks if you want to know what being pushed to the limit to react is like, look no further considering I could easily evict him by a court order, but I do not because I do not believe in just throwing someone out.  Nope, as much as I wanted to say something, I kept my mouth shut even though I felt, coupled with the car situation and other cleanliness and disrespect issues, that I needed to endure.  This was indeed another test of my mercy and with as far as I have come, I am not going to fail now.

 

Situation 3:  In between, my mother had a turkey that had been sitting out in the freezer for a while and wanted to get it made before it became freezer burnt.  She got all the makings, made homemade macaroni and cheese, and green bean casserole. No special occasion, just a nice Saturday dinner.  I helped with carving the turkey and doing all the cleanup, washing and putting dishes away and cleaning up the kitchen.  There were a lot of dishes that day and I had no help cleaning them as both of my brothers were asleep due to the fact they work night shifts.  Everyone who was sleeping was made a plate so the cleanup could be done.  The next morning I found out that though there was half a casserole dish left of the mac and cheese when I put it away, enough for two people had been taken from the container that I put it away in.  At that very I moment I mentioned that I would like to have more of it and felt that was fair since I helped get the dinner ready and I did all the cleanup by myself.  That very evening both my mother and older brother, took the remainder of the mac and cheese while I was working on this blog. 

 

On this occasion I did slip up and use some swear words.  I’ll admit I dropped an F-Bomb.  Now folks, I rarely swear.  I mean you have to really, really, and I mean REALLY push my buttons and back me into a corner.  I said in so many ways ‘this is the last time I will help cook or clean anything if this non-sense continues!  I am sick of all of you being inconsiderate of me!’  I was already fatigued with everything else as well as the constant reminder that this country is going down the tubes and all the while, everyone seems to keep doing whatever they want, acting selfishly without any consideration to anyone else.  The next day, my brother’s friend (who has also been staying here) asked me for a ride to work.  First of all, I can’t be sure why since he has been staying here since October, he has not gotten a car or arranged another way. 

 

Because I have said ‘yes’ a few times, I feel like now it’s become an excuse to ask multiple times a week.  In other words, feeling like he could be taking advantage.  He could walk, but he chooses to stay up all night and so he wakes up at the very last minute assuming we are always going to drop what we are doing to drive him.  Excuse me, I am letting you stay here and it is not my responsibility to provide transportation to work.  For years, when I didn’t have a car, I had to walk or take taxis if I could not find a ride. I told him months ago to install the ‘Lyft’ app on his phone.  Why he has not done so I have no idea but the arrogance of assuming I would give him a ride coupled with I believe it was he or my brother who didn’t flush the toilet the night before really got on my last nerves and I frankly said “you need find an alternate way.’ 

 

I then felt guilty in the sense that, I should not have responded to all of this the way I did.  The Lord rebuked me by giving me several verses as it pertains to the judgment of others. So that is why I tie this in with the trials and testing.  In between reading the verses given to me I cried to the Lord and asked why He was allowing this.  I said to Him, ‘I am trying to follow You as close as I can for the first time in my life and I can’t seem to get it right; like I’m a failure no matter what I do. He said ‘Son, that’s not true. You know in your heart that is not of me and not true.’ I replied, “Well I don’t understand; Why do you keep allowing things like this to go on?”  He then reminded me, ‘Son, have you not asked Me in your prayers to help you to become more Holy in your approach when dealing with others? Why do you question my approach to teaching you when I correct you?’  I had to admit I don’t know, because I don’t. Who am I to question God?  His ways are higher than any of us.  I had to humble myself.  I already felt inspired to write this blog concerning trials, but then this further inspired me to write on the judgment of others during these trials.

 

The next morning, I reflected further and He revealed to me while I was in prayer speaking to Him that there are ways to say ‘no’ to someone, simply by talking to them and explaining rationally.  Basing a no answer on judgment for something previous is a no-no and constitutes holding a grudge (this is a form of pride).  I confessed I had sinned and asked Him to help me realize when I do this as I don’t mean to.  Later in the evening, very late, He revealed to me that He is moving me into the next chapter of my life; What I believe is my true purpose which he has been giving me hints of here and there for at least a couple of months now.

 

“I have watched your sufferings my child.  I see your tears and I know the heaviness of your heart.  Through it all you have reverenced and obeyed me.  You have slipped but you haven’t fallen.  You have not given up.  I am raising you up now, indeed I have been all along.  Do not think that I have not been witness to what you have been through for I see all of it.  I will be taking you out of your situation as I cannot have interference with the works I am calling you to do for Me.  Know that I love you and you shall have all you will need.  You will be delighted in what I am about to do.” 

 

He said in so many ways that those who are not walking in His ways will need to face consequences (the wilderness) for their actions and I cannot be present when they go through these as a ‘crutch’ for them.  He knows I have tried to tell them and it is deflected back on me.  I have prayed and He knows it is a true concern I have.  This is a true concern as we are now heading into the tribulation.  I pray the Lord have mercy on them through their own trials and I have to leave it there and trust He has a plan and they are safe in His hands.  It is out of my hands. 

 

Folks, though at times the trials may seem like an uphill battle (and I only mentioned a few of them -these have been ongoing for months if not over a year) I just want to conclude that no matter what you are dealing with, no matter how many times you are poked, prodded and tempted, stay true to the Lord.  He will guide you and after you have suffered for a little while and learned what He is asking of you, He will guide you and re-establish you.  Through all of these trials I have been dealt, the one fact that has gotten me through was reading more and more about Jesus and how badly He was treated and persecuted before He was sentenced to death on the cross to die for our sins.  Here we think we have a right to complain about our injustices?  The Word puts it into context quickly for us.  At some point all of the apostles and prophets went through suffering and trials.  Job was also a great example of what he had to endure before he was restored by remaining faithful.

 

If you think what you are going through is so bad, always remember how Jesus humbled himself though He never sinned but through His suffering, brought glory to God and overcame the world that we may be saved.  When Christ lives within you, you too can overcome the world and your sufferings with His help if you will embrace what He desires to teach you.

 

In closing, and in addition to what I have written here, I want to leave you with a special treat.  My dear friend and sister in Christ, Glynda Lomax, who runs her own ministry titled ‘Just Praise Him Today,’ has written a book called ‘The Wilderness Companion.’  I highly recommend checking these out in addition to any other resources.  I know for me when the Lord grabbed my attention after many years of back sliding and sin and placed me into the wilderness, he reminded of Glynda Lomax’s ministry which I had known of several years earlier before I slid off the rails.  Glynda has put a lot of tears, time and testimony into her experiences and she shares them here and explains in great detail, how to overcome these trials by partnering with God which will lead you out of the wilderness much faster and prepare you for what to expect in addition to what I have shared on this blog. 

 

You can check out Glynda’s blog here.

 

The Wilderness Companion (You can get it for Kindle or Paperback as well as an audio book) here.

 

Additionally, Glynda does a weekly podcast and you can find it by searching ‘Just Praise Him Today’ on your favorite (available on most) podcast platform.

 

Update (3/12/2021): Sister Glynda reached out to me via email to ask if I would like to do a podcast on this very topic in regards to my experience in the wilderness to which I agreed.  

 

You can listen to the podcast on any of the following platforms;

 

On Podbean

On Apple Podcasts

On Spotify

On Google Podcasts

On YouTube

 

It is my prayer that this blog has been a blessing to you in any trials you have been dealing with.  Always remember Jesus is with you and He is well-aware of your sufferings.  Don’t give up on the Lord for He will not give up on you. 

 

Verses as they pertain to this blog;

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NLT)

⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. ⁵ We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. ⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. ⁷ We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. ⁸ We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. ⁹ We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. ¹⁰ Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

 

2 Timothy 2:10-12 (KJV)

¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: ¹² If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

1 Peter 2:19 (NLT)

¹⁹ For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

 

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

 

1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

¹⁰ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

 

James 1:12-15 (NKJV)

¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

 

James 5:7-16 (NKJV)

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

¹² But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

Ephesians 6: 12-13 (KJV)

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

Hebrews 2:18 (KJV)

¹⁸ For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

 

Hebrews 3:6 (KJV)

⁶ but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

 

Hebrews 3:12-15 (KJV)

¹² Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, ¹⁵ while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

Hebrews 4:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

 

Hebrews 6:10-12 (KJV)

¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)

³⁵ So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

 

Jeremiah 12:5 (NKJV)

⁵ “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?

 

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

1 Peter 1: 3-7, 9, 13-17 (NLT)

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. ⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

⁶ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

¹³ So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. ¹⁴ So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. ¹⁵ But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. ¹⁶ For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

¹⁷ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

 

1 Peter 4:12-13 (KJV)

¹² Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³ But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

2 Peter 3:9-10 (KJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

 

Matthew 8:13 (NLT)

¹³ Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

 

Matthew 10:22 (KJV)

²² And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

 

Matthew 21:21-22 (NLT)

²¹ Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. ²² You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

 

Romans 5: 3-6 (NLT)

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. ⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.