A Test of Endurance

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”  II Corinthians 4:8-10

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “survivor” as one who “continues to live after or in spite of” an event which causes a devastating or harmful effect upon oneself.  We all live under stress.  One would think that with all of our modern conveniences we would have less stress, but, in fact, we seem to have more stress than ever.  I know I have dealt with more stress than normal this week.  I actually experienced some physical symptoms from a particular situation in which I am involved.  And then yesterday, Friday, a transformer blew down the street from my house and caused a surge throughout the neighborhood.  I smelled something burning in my house and called 911.  The fire department came quickly (thanks for and to those brave men and women who risk their lives for the community), searched my house, and determined that my surge protectors had done their job, and the smell was coming from them.  However, I did lose my refrigerator, microwave, and some smaller appliances that were not plugged into surge protectors.  My electrician came out, checked everything, and installed a whole house surge protector.  I thank God that it wasn’t any worse than it was.  God is good, all the time.

We all face trials.  Someone once said that a person is just coming out of a storm, in the midst of a storm, or heading into one.  There is no one alive who has not been affected by troubles, trials, and/or tragedies.  Our perspective plays a huge role in how we handle the effect of tough times.  I have used this example before, but it’s worth repeating.  An on line writer, Patrice Lewis, wrote an article a few years ago entitled “The Simple Secret to Surviving Any Crisis”.  Her main premise was that some people who could have survived a catastrophe do not because they weren’t prepared to adapt to whatever the situation brought upon them.  They did not have the ability to accept the scenario.  Their belief that whatever was happening couldn’t be happening to them which put them in denial paralyzing them into not being able to react appropriately.

In contrast, those who learned to expect the unexpected had a better chance of remaining calm and surviving.  The Apostle Paul wrote that believers are going to face trouble, confusing circumstances, persecutions, and disappointments (boy, I know that’s true), but we don’t have to give up or give in.  No matter what we have to face in this life as we inhabit this sin-cursed world, we know that Christ is in us, going through the trial with us, and giving us the strength to survive.  Sometimes I think that stuff happens in order that we can see God at work in our circumstances.  Even if what we are facing may seem rather insignificant, none of our concerns are insignificant to the Lord.  A child may have a problem that seems trivial to the parent, but to the child, it is a big deal.  What bothers us bothers God because we can’t be at our best for Him if we are burdened down with a load of care.  He said to cast ALL of our cares upon Him because He cares for us (I Peter 5:7), and God always means what He says.