May be testing your faith:

 

Genesis 12:10

When famine struck, Abram went to Egypt where there was food.  Why would there be a feminine if the land where God had just called Abram?  This was a test of Abram’s faith, and Abram passed.  He didn’t question God’s leading when facing this difficulty.  Many believers find that when they determine to follow God, they immediately encounter great obstacles.  The next time you face such a test, don’t try to second-guess what God is doing.  Use the intelligence God gave you, as Abram did when he temporarily moved to Egypt, and wait for new opportunities.

 

Luke 4:1 

Sometimes we feel that if the Holy Spirit leads us, it will always be “beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2).  But that is not necessarily true.  He led Jesus into the desert for a long and difficult time of testing, and he may also lead us into difficult situations.  When facing trials, first make sure you haven’t

brought them on yourself through sin or unwise choices.  If you find no sin to confess or unwise behaviour to change, then ask God to strengthen you for your test.  Finally, be careful to follow faithfully wherever the Holy Spirit leads.

 

(Temptation will often come after a high point in our spiritual lives or ministries (see 1 Kings 18; 19 for Elijah’s story of great victory followed by despair).  Remember that Satan chooses the times for his attacks.  We need to be on our guard in times of victory just as much as in times of discouragement.  See the third note on Matthew 4:1ff for a comment on how Satan tempts us when we’re vulnerable.)

2 Thessalonians 1:5 

As we live for Christ, we will experience troubles because we are trying to be God’s people in a perverse world.  Some people say that troubles are the result of sin or lack of faith, but Paul teaches that they may be a part of God’s plan for believers.  Our problems can’t help us look upward and forward, instead of inward (Mark 13:35, 36; Philippians 3:13, 14); they can build strong character (Romans 5:3, 4); and they can provide us with opportunities to comfort others who are also struggling (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  Your troubles may be an indication that you are taking a stand for Christ.

Following God may bring more:

 

Genesis 12:10 

When famine struck, Abram went to Egypt where there was food.  Why would there be a feminine if the land where God had just called Abram?  This was a test of Abram’s faith, and Abram passed.  He didn’t question God’s leading when facing this difficulty.  Many believers find that when they determine to follow God, they immediately encounter great obstacles.  The next time you face such a test, don’t try to second-guess what God is doing.  Use the intelligence God gave you, as Abram did when he temporarily moved to Egypt, and wait for new opportunities.

Exodus 5:4-9 

Moses and Aaron took their message to Pharaoh just as God directed.  The unhappy result was harder work and more oppression for the Hebrews.

Sometimes hardship comes as a result of obeying God.  Are you following God but still suffering – or suffering even worse than before?  If your life is miserable don’t assume you have fallen out of God’s favour.  You may be suffering for doing good in an evil world.

Exodus 5:22-23 

Pharaoh had just increased the Hebrews’ workload, and Moses protested that God had not rescued his people.  Moses expected faster results and fewer problems.  When God is at work, suffering, setbacks, and hardship may still occur.  In James 1:2-4, we are encouraged to be happy when difficulties come our way.  Problems develop our patience and character by teaching us to (1) trust God to do what is best for us, (2) look for ways to

honour God in our present situation, (3) remember that God will not abandon us, and (4) watch for God’s plan for us.

 

Danger of solving them our way:

 

Genesis 16:3 

Sarai took matters into her own hands by giving Hagar to Abram.  Like Abram she had trouble believing God’s promise that was apparently directed specifically toward Abram and Sarai.  Out of this lack of faith came a series of problems.  This invariably happens when we take over for God, trying to make his promise come true through efforts that are not in line with his specific directions.  In this case, time was the greatest test of Abram and Sarai’s willingness to let God work in their lives.  Sometimes we too must simply wait.  When we ask God for something and have towait, it is a temptation to take matters into our own hands and interfere with God’s plans.

Blaming others for ours:

 

Genesis 16:5 

Although Sarai arranged for Hagar to have a child by Abram, she later blamed Abram for the results.  It is often easier to strike out in frustration and accuse someone else than to admit an error and ask forgiveness.  (Adam and Eve did the same thing in 3:12, 13.)

Don’t run away from:

 

Genesis 16:8 

Hagar was running away from her mistress and her problem.  The angel of the Lord gave her this advice: (1) to return and face Sarai, the cause of her problem, and (2) to submit to her.  Hagar needed to work on her attitude towards Sarai, no matter how justified it may have been.  Running away from our problems rarely solves them.  It is wise to return to our problems, face them squarely, accept God’s promise of help, correct our attitudes, and act as we should.

 

None too complicated for God:

 

Genesis 16:13 

We have watched three people make serious mistakes: (1) Sarai, who took matters into her own hands and gave her maid-servant to Abram; (2) Abram, who went along with the plan but, when circumstances began to go wrong, refused to help solve the problem; and (3) Hagar, who ran away from the problem.  In spite of this messy situation, God demonstrated his ability to work in all things good (Romans 8:28).  Sarai and Abram still received the son they so desperately wanted, and God solved Hagar’s problem despite Abram’s refusal to get involved.  No problem is too complicated for God if you are willing to let him help you.

Genesis 18:14 

“Is anything too hard for the LORD?”  The obvious answer is, “Of course not!”  This question reveals much about God.  Make it a habit to insert your specific needs into the question, “Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord?”  “Is this habit I’m trying to break too hard for him?”  “Is this  communication problem I’m having too hard for him?”  Asking the question this way reminds you that God is personally involved in your life and

nudges you to ask for his power to help you.

 

Lying brings more:

 

Genesis 18:15 

Sarah lied because she was afraid of being discovered.  Fear is the most common motive for lying.  We are afraid that our inner thoughts and emotions will be exposed or our wrongdoings discovered.  But lying causes greater complications than telling the truth and  brings even more problems.  If God can’t be trusted with our innermost thoughts and fears, we are in greater trouble than we first imagined.

God will help solve yours:

 

Genesis 20:11-12 

Because Abraham mistakenly assumed that Abimelech was a wicked man, he made a quick decision to tell a half-truth.  Abraham thought it would be more effective to deceive Abimelech than to trust God to work in the king’s life.  Don’t assume that God will not work in a situation that has potential problems.  You may not completely understand the situation, and God may intervene when you least expect it.

God overcomes the impossible ones:

 

Genesis 21:1-7 

Who could believe that Abraham would have a son at 100 years of age – and live to raise him to adulthood?  But doing the impossible is everyday business for God.  Our big problems won’t seem so impossible if we let God handle them.

Christianity doesn’t guarantee problem-free life:

 

Genesis 35:10 

God reminded Jacob of his new name, Israel, which meant “he struggles with God”.  Although Jacob’s life was littered with difficulties and trials, his new name was a tribute to his desire to stay close to God despite life’s disappointments.

Psalms 18:32-34 

God promises to give us strength to meet challenges, but he doesn’t promise to eliminate them.  If he gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow.  He does not leave us alone with our challenges, however.  Instead he stands beside us, teaches us, and strengthens us to face them.