The Hardships Of The Redeemed
The frustrations the powers of darkness fire at the true men of God and believers are simply to achieve one purpose, break their bonds with God.
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
Psalms 2:1-3 NKJV
This attempt is permissive from God to try the faith expressed by the believers and men of God towards God. We don’t just throw words about God and let go free, each word will be tried to know the intent of the believer. Many profess to love and trust God unreservedly until the uncomfortable comes their way.
Though the adversary knows their chance of prevailing is way too small they take the task all the same fighting hard to win.
This is where one’s knowledge and understanding of the operations of God is needed, for to go through those seasons strong and undeterred will be crucial.
But for lack of knowledge, many perish at the hands of what was not meant to destroy them but to qualify them for higher heights in God. I strongly believe that to date the devil is still understudying his mission on Job and how it ended up; for if he thought God had destructive plans for Job in his test to prove the testimony God gave of him to the devil, he was dead wrong.
Indeed with the same temptation, God is capable of providing an escape route so that we may be able to bear our hard times. (1 Cor 10:13)
It doesn’t matter the nature of the hardship(s) it is still ready to promote us to the next level in our closeness with God, making us take the promotion test.
The best people to employ as examiners (vessels of operation) are people who fail the same test we are to take. Such a category of people is mostly full of bitter envy and hot wrath towards anyone who is trying to attempt the path they failed. Some are people who couldn’t wait on God but sought other means to survive and are out of touch with God. Chief of such is the devil, that old dragon, and all else who have fallen from grace.
The sight of a believer striving for righteousness is a big insult to some of those people and such believers’ lifestyles because it is a conviction and condemnation to them that offends their fallen nature.
Their mission is to prove that what they failed at is unattainable – if they couldn’t hold on to their relationship with God, no one can and that the hot envy will make them do worse things.
Yet in all God is not ignorant of the outcome.
Rejoice always at the hands of hardships, and return to your source of your joy who is the Lord at all times and in all circumstances for He has a great end for you.
“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11
Article by Apostle Ellen Otchere (KBITS 2022 ALUMNI)