No one wants to suffer. Why? We are all human beings made up of Spirit, soul and body. Although we are very different, I've noticed three underlying human similarities:
1) We all need love
2) We all go through hurt
3) None of us want to endure pain
Anyone that has ever endured trials, heartache or pain knows that it is temporary. We know in this world troubles will come; we should also know those troubles won't last. Psalm 30:5 says "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
There is one constant: we won't know when the trials will end. This bittersweet revelation is where we can exercise our faith and trust in The Lord. Jesus doesn't give us a time frame when issues will be over, but He tells us to be patient and wait on Him. (Isaiah 40:31) We can trust His Word, because He is not a man that will lie. God will deliver us because He keeps His Promises.
When man was disobedient in Noah's time, the world was destroyed by flood. This pivotal moment in history did not happen swiftly. God gave His children every chance to be delivered from what was coming. Most chose not to believe. I hear many dispute why a loving God would allow this; but I never hear anyone argue why man doesn't heed the truth when God speaks. Disobedience never comes to our mind, because our selfish nature wants to blame others. God is, was and always will be Merciful and Just. (Exodus 34:6-7)
We Must Change
I heard a few preachers mention our problems didn't begin with us, but I have enough faith to know we can choose to let it end with us. We can choose obedience, not sin. We failed to follow God's Kingdom agenda (living life His way); we separated our thoughts from His thoughts and have failed on a personal, city, state, national and world level. We have followed man's ideology, not God's call to live righteously. We have forgotten to love ourselves, our neighbors and most of all we've forgotten we are ALL brothers and sisters. We are ALL God's children. When we hurt each other, we hurt Our Father. We have forgotten who we are and our Kingdom purpose: to love, praise and serve God; to bring Him glory by leading others to His Son Jesus Christ. We have chosen the world and it's temporary material possessions over God's gift of Eternal life. Peter says it best:
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10-11
How We Change
How can we change? Where do we start? We start with Jesus. We have a Risen Savior in Jesus Christ. He has overcome the world. He is willing to come into our hearts and clean every area of our lives. We first, must admit we have issues and need His help. We must confess our ways to Him and seek forgiveness (Romans 10:9-10). When we decide to humble ourselves and invite Jesus in, His Holy Spirit transforms us: Spirit, soul, and body. We are made new. God gave us, (His church) instructions to speak to problems in our land:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
My prayer is that we understand who we are in Christ Jesus. I pray we Seek Him First. I pray we realize our way doesn't work. I pray we walk humbly and pray daily. I pray our faith and obedience pleases God. When He delivers us, I pray we stay in alignment and that Our Father finds favor with us.
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