WHY SUFFER IF GOD IS WITH US: Devotion for Tuesday June 7, 2016

WHY SUFFER IF GOD IS WITH US: Devotion for Tuesday June 7, 2016

Text: Judges 6:11 – 18                  Memory verse:  v 13

Most Christians believe that they can’t suffer if God is with them. But this is not the true case. God was with Joseph even in the prison (Gen 39:23). He was there in the prison with Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25ff). The presence of these men in prison turned out to glorify God and grant them favour as in the case of Joseph. This is what we should understand that suffering, temptation and trials are never signs that God has forgotten us or He is no more with us. When we have this understanding, it will help us to weather all storms of life in faith and optimism that our God will bring us out of them at last.

Gideon queried the angel of the Lord when the angel greeted him saying, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour (6:12b)!" The reaction of Gideon to this greeting did not come from distrust, but from weakness of faith. No man in this life can have a perfect faith because we falter most times: yet the children of God have a enough faith, by which they are justified. This is how most of us react when we hear some preaching about God’s faithfulness while we are suffering from lack, sickness, bondage of Satan, etc. We easily rebuff the message that God cannot be with us and the devil is dealing mercilessly with us. Beloved, remember that God is not unmindful of what we suffer (Ps. 111:5).

Food for Thought: Why do you complain? Did God promise us life free from suffering?

Prayer: Lord, grant me proper understanding of your will for me so that I will not complain over things I pass through in life.