THEME: “TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST, TOUGH PEOPLE DO”
Read Romans 8:28-30
GOOD COMES OUT OF TOUGH TIMES
Key Verse: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10).
When adversity and tough times occur and persist, it is difficult to see light at the end of the tunnel. It is hard to believe that good will come out of hard times. But that is what the Bible says, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalms 30:5 NKJV).
Life is never static. God created times and seasons. He said, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night Shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22 NKJV). As is often said, the only thing constant in life is change. No season lasts forever. The night must give way to the morning. After winter comes summer. After the gloomy cloud comes the sunshine. After famine comes the days of abundance; after COVID-19 good times will return. We shall see the good times once more. The year started very badly, yet it can end on a good note. The God who allows bad times has the ability to send good times.
Ruth and Naomi went to the land of Moab full of expectations, but adversity, death and grief cut short their dreams and joy, yet the sun shone on them when they returned to Bethlehem. Joseph was ditched by his brothers, was rescued, was resold into slavery, was wrongly accused, was imprisoned, he suffered rejection, victimization, and false accusation, but eventually he emerged to be the Prime Minister in Egypt. When God turned the captivity of Israel around, they were like those who dreamt.
Nothing pays like endurance and hope in a time of adversity. Hope makes us see light at the end of the tunnel. We must never give up our confidence in a time of adversity. This is the time to dig in and wait for God’s sunshine and visitation. The wind will blow our way again. Painful as COVID-19 may be, we shall yet sing for joy. Testimonies will resound again. Good times will return.
“Don’t you remember those days right after the Light shined in your hearts? You endured a great marathon season of suffering hardships, yet you stood your ground. And at times you were publicly and shamefully mistreated, being persecuted for your faith; then at other times you stood side by side with those who preach the message of hope. You sympathized with those in prison and when all your belongings were confiscated you accepted that violation with joy; convinced that you possess a treasure growing in heaven that could never be taken from you. So, don’t lose your bold, courageous faith, for you are destined for a great reward! You need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of God’s will and then you receive the promise in full. For soon and very soon, “The One who is appearing will come without delay!” (Hebrews 10:32-37 TPT).
PRAYER: Father, help me to hold on to you and never give up. May I never lose my confidence but wait for the reward it will bring.
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