Listen to two different passages written by Paul:
2Cor. 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
There is no contradiction, of course, in these passages.
The believer can and must rejoice in all situations, not because your life is easy, but because we have assurance in God’s promises. We have assurance in Jesus Christ.
Listen to another very familiar passage, but what we must say are some of the most chilling or haunting words in Scripture.
Psa. 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
These words of David were, as you know, spoken by our Lord during His crucifixion.
They express in words the suffering and judgment that our Lord endured for us.
These words for the believer properly understood are words of great comfort. What is your comfort in these words?
As Paul stated in Romans 8,
Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Because Christ was forsaken in bearing the punishment that you deserve, you can have confidence that you will never be forsaken. |
