How to overcome trials and tribulations as a Christian?

How to overcome trials and tribulations as a Christian?

Posted on July 7, 2014

 

Memorise: “How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Ps 137:4)Read: Psalm 137:1-4

How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:4 ). When some Israeli captives were brought to Babylon, they were very upset. Some were talented musicians whom God could have used in reaching out to the Babylonians, but they were so depressed that they locked up their talents. They did not know God allowed them to go into captivity to fulfil His divine purpose. They stood in God’s way.

Eventually, God had to look up to Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego – who were also captives in Babylon to declare Him in the whole land. And they did it so well that the Name of their God was revered in the whole empire. Infact, a decree was made that anyone who slandered the God of the Hebrews in any way, would die and their families rendered homeless (Dan 3).

God is keenly interested in how you serve Him when in captivity. It is easy to serve God when all is well, but service during a siege or captivity makes more meaning to His Highest Majesty. Today, you may not be taken as a physical slave: But you could be in captivity of barrenness, poverty, dryness, unanswered prayers, stagnancy, failure, ill-health, etc.

You could be allowed to go through a trial of faith situation which might keep you out of job for some years or months. You, once your own boss, might have to subordinate yourself to somebody far junior to you in ministry or secular work. In such a situation, what is your attitude to God? Do you down tools like the Israeli musicians or take that as an opportunity to faithfully stand for your God? Naaman’s slave girl declared the power of her God in Syria. When you find yourself in another country, do you hide your faith in Christ? Remember Joseph was also a slave in Egypt but he resolved to prove His God to the Egyptians through his conduct.

How you respond to God, His work and His people during a siege will determine quite a lot of things affecting both now and particularly the future. Have you allowed discouragement or depression to set in because of that stagnant situation? Come out of it! Take up your tools and serve God more. What you do for God this period goes into the records. Set a good record today!

Service during captivity attracts a greater reward than service in time of freedom.

By Pastor Enoch Adeboye

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