by
CHANTELLE CHRISTIANS

Imagine waking up with chronic pain almost every day of your life. This has been me, for the most part of this season.

Sometimes I feel the emotional pain and frustration more than the actual pain. Then I always have to remind myself that my faith muscles are being strengthened by this trial. God is using this pain to cultivate and make something beautiful out of this!

But nonetheless, lately I’ve been studying the book of first Peter, and it’s like the Lord is opening my eyes through this part of Scripture on what it speaks about suffering and faith.

I’ve always admired the Apostle Paul. The man had a thorn in his flesh, and although we don’t know what it was (some people argue it was sickness, some argue it was a mental shortcoming), he still was so faithful to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And he really lived a full life, despite this “pain“ or “torment“. After his encounter with God on his way to Damascus, he lived only for God (Acts 9).

Although the Apostle Paul asked the Lord to remove the thorn, three times he asked, but God didn’t remove it. Instead, God gifted him with more grace and strength for his weakness, infirmities, and pain!

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

It’s very easy to say to people God heals until the tables have turned and it’s your time to trust God to be your physician.

And I’ve seen and heard of people receiving instant healing, but that’s not my story. God can heal me instantly if He wants to, but sometimes there’s a process you have to go through. And honestly sometimes I want to throw myself out of the process and be the woman that is healing, fit and stable for God.

But it’s in the process that the muscle of endurance is built as my faith strengthens!

There was this meme going around beginning of the year: of people‚ calling ’God not to be on the strongest soldiers list’ for 2023. It was funny to see because honestly, I wasn’t ready for any spiritual battles this year, but then again, it comes with being a child of God.

The day you accept God as your Lord and Saviour, is the day you become a soldier of the Kingdom of Heaven!

Coming back to the first book of Peter, I was reading this one verse from a particular chapter, and it made me weep like a baby! And I just asked God why, why, why. Like, why do You allow trials in our lives. Why do I have to experience this pain, why are people that I love and care about struggling, why are people close to me mourning.

And this verse blew me away. It is the answer to all my “why’s”. And sometimes with tears in my eyes, with pain in my body; I remind myself “that this is testing the genuineness of your faith”.

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” 1 Peter 1:7.

I know how hard, and unfair life can be. I know how painful, and frustrating trials can be. However, if there’s one thing you need to be praying for: it’s not an increase of faith, God can’t increase your faith, and apart from the grace and strength that He gives you. Ask for an enduring spirit!

I’m low-key obsessed with the final episode of The Chosen Season 3, where they play out the part of Peter walking on water towards Jesus and there’s a storm happening around them.  A few episodes earlier, Peter was out spreading the Gospel while in the meantime his wife had a miscarriage. And it just broke him! Jesus performs the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, and Peter wasn’t even showing a little bit of excitement only anger!

So, the disciples pack up after everything and they go on a boat to cross over and it’s the scene where there’s a storm and Jesus walks on water.

Peter recognizes Jesus, eventually he steps out of the boat and the moment he took his eyes off Jesus he sank into the ocean… And what did Jesus tell him after rescuing him?

“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”” Matthew 14:31.

Dearly beloved, a little piece of advice; don’t doubt God once you’ve prayed for something. Have faith and trust the Lord!

The Bible says that if you doubt you will receive nothing from the Lord (James 1:6-8). And just for the record, doubt is something I struggle with sometimes and I still have to repent and encourage my soul to expect God to turn things around.

Another piece of advice don’t stop praying until God has answered your prayer. Make your voice known in heaven. Begin to thank God of how you will testify about your answered prayer.

Last piece of advice and you can make this your prayer, this is a verse which is dear to my heart:

Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer.
(Romans 12:12).

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CHANTELLE CHRISTIANS

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