Grace Overwhelming

Hey, guys. Yeah, so my last post was pretty intense. The Lord has been pouring out grace since then. He has blessed me with friends who point me to him. My accountability partners preach the gospel to me and remind me that I am saved! My greatest need is met. They also remind me that we serve a sovereign God who loves us and does what is best for us according to his will. 1 Peter is becoming my book. In chapter 4 Peter encourages the church by writing to them, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed," (verses 12 and 13). Wow, that is a lot to unpack in a couple of verses. We should not be surprised by trials. I don't know about you, but my flesh is always telling me, "Where did this come from?" Well, that is deception. We are in a fallen world. We will have trials and tribulations. The Bible clearly tells us this. II Corinthians 1 is helpful in this instance as to one reason why we undergo trials. Beginning in verse 3 Paul relates to the Corinthians, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too," (verses 3-5). If there is no other reason for suffering, the Lord will use our affliction to comfort someone else. We can relate to others in a personal way. I know Tuesday night when I was in the valley of the shadow of death I felt like I was alone and no one could understand where I was. I Corinthians 10:13 is a good answer to that sinful response. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." How can we not have faith in light of this? He has provided a way of escape-Christ Jesus! He died on the cross so that we can escape sin and its ultimate result-eternal death in hell. How can we despair if we are covered in the blood of Christ and are eternally positioned in him? We must trust in the Lord and his sovereignty because he cares for us (I Peter 5:6-7).