Trials

A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling down because everything horrible seemed to happen all at once. I was stressed from my jobs, stressed by my studies and by other events that took place in my life. Eventually things got better when I made a conscious decision to attend this Bible study that my friend invited me to. I was hesitant at first but my room mate, Belinda pushed me to go. And I am grateful that I went. However, after I went for Bible study regularly, other things began to happen.

My cousin who is like the twin I never had went through some of the worst times in his life. He has been through pretty rough times but nothing beat this one this time. He lost his job (he hasn't been able to hold a steady job for a while), his girlfriend conspired against him; got him arrested, fired from his job and chased after by loan sharks. The most interesting part is that nothing of it was his own doing. Everything happened because of what someone else did to him. I've already had a nagging feeling that it was no coincidence that all these bad things has been happening to him but it was God letting him know that he can't go through life trying to fix and control everything by himself. He was a believer but backslid after a bad incident that happened in his church. I had been telling him all this while about my "theory" but he always brushed it aside.

However, a couple of days ago, after not being able to talk to him for a while, he finally admitted to me that it did cross his mind that maybe God was calling him back to himself. That was a breakthrough in itself because I had been praying regularly for him the past few weeks since I attended the Bible study. I even convinced him to attend CG but the night before he was to attend, some people came to his house looking for him so he had to run and hide. Because of that, he couldn't attend CG and I don't think that was coincidence either.

Also, I received an email from a good friend of mine the other day saying how she had a near death experience. She never emails me so this had to be something serious. She was driving on the road and her car drifted and spun 360 on the highway. The amazing thing was that she didn't crash into the divider or into another car. That wasn't the only "incident" that happened to her. I've been praying for her regularly also and I believe that the enemy has been behind all these incidents.

The small bump downwards that I had a few weeks ago was the enemy's doing but thank God for my room mate who dragged me to Bible study when I didn't feel like going. My faith has definitely been strengthened through this fellowship with other believers and I know he hated that. So he had to bring me down somehow, by targeting those who are close to my heart - my cousin and my good friend. He made the wrong move because now, more than ever, I am going all out to intercede on their behalf, rallying other fellow believers in Christ to pray for their safety and for mine. If you have come to faith in Christ and are reading this, please join me in constant prayer for this matter.

I remember my pastor saying this, if everything is going okie-dokie with you; there are no trials, no persecution, nothing of concern going on in your life, you had better watch out because the enemy does not see you as a threat. It's when things are happening in your life that he is starting to get worried about you, he wants to pull you down, to lose your faith, to lose your hope and trust and to doubt God. The best thing about this situation is that I know for sure that God is on my side! All we have to do is to humble ourselves and come before God and pray ernestly with all our hearts because the victory is already won. We just have to claim it in the name of Jesus!

So my dear friends, if trials and difficult times come your way, give thanks and be glad, for you know that no matter how the enemy tries to bring you down, God is and will always be on your side.