ONLY BELIEVE

I would like to challenge the idea that if your circumstances are good, you are necessarily close to God and God is answering your prayers. Likewise I challenge the idea that if your circumstances are bad, you are far from God and God is purposefully not listening to you.

I have three Biblical examples upon which I base this challenge: Joseph, Job, and Paul.

Joseph had everything going his way. His family was wealthy and he had a wonderful relationship with his father. Then one day his brothers sold him into years of slavery. He spent long months in prison due to false accusations. Just when he could have thought things were wonderful, he received another trial to deal with. It was years and years later when he was elevated to rule over Egypt and was reconciled with his family. At any point he could have chucked his faith, and yet he is one of very few Old Testament saints for whom no overt sins are recorded. He never let go of the Lord, never stopped trusting him.

Job, you know the story. He lost everything but his wife and his life. I would venture to say no one in the Bible suffered more than he did, since all his children were killed around the same time. And we know God allowed this to happen. And the Bible says Job never sinned with his lips. He questioned God but never stopped trusting him.

Paul never had a wife and kids, but he saw many tragedies in his life. Fellow workers betrayed him. Some were imprisoned and executed for the faith. Because of his many travels he would form bonds of friendship and then had to move on to other cities and lands. And of course you have the laundry list of beatings, , shipwreck, hunger, cold, and imprisonment he went through. And God specifically REFUSED his prayer to have his thorn in the flesh removed.

So here you have three incredible saints who persevered in trusting God despite being complete losers in the world's eyes.

They however had FAITH IN FUTURE GRACE. They did not look to this broken, beat-up, sin-sick and sin-soaked world for a reward or for comfort. They chose to believe the promise that one day in the future, God would lift them up, even if it was only after .

I am preaching to myself here. I have been in that place alone in my room where everything I see and hear and think is negative. I have been in the place of zero hope.

God is there. GOD HEARS THE BROKEN AND CONTRITE IN HEART.

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of . But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the . He delivered us from such a ly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many." (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

"...a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth...." (Isaiah 42:3-4)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:3-6)

This God is abundant in mercy and steadfast love. He will empower you to ask forgiveness and make resistution to those you have hurt. And there will be victory for you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnote: credit due to John Piper for the phrase "faith in future grace." I am reading his book of the same title. It is really opening my eyes.