Insight
When things get tough.....
Ever feel like everything is not according to what you wanted it to be? Perhaps you are in one right now, just got out from one? Or perhaps about to enter one. Either way, there will be a time we experience "all things not working out" season in our life, at least once.
The fact of the matter is time does not change us nor does the
things we do. We change however by the way we think. The way we
think either bring us forward or backward. By the end of time, it's
all about the way we think.
If you've been to
Sunday School
before, or if you've been
Christian long
enough, you are likely to heard the story of Samuel, the great
priest. A
man of God,
used in his generation to shape the world of Israel. What is not
often heard of is the story of his birth and the pre-condition of
that birth.
1 Samuel 1:1-8 is the story of a mother, longing for a child. The
story begins with a man, Elkana that happened to have 2 wives,
Peninah and Hannah. A family that loves God and
worship God - at the time by going to Silo to bring
sacrifices to God, it is a family that was shaken hard internally.
Two women, married to one man, first in love & now in rivalry of
who's a better wife by mothering children.
So as the story goes, each year Elkana bring his family to Silo to
worship God. Each year, he give a portion of meat to Peninah and
each of her children. But to Hannah, he gave her double portion. A
double portion because Hannah, though love dearly by her husband is
not able to bear child. Perhaps the reason why Peninah is married to
Elkana - as the culture at the time despise a wife that's not
bearing children.
Hannah was devastated. Not only she is not able to bear a child,
each year, Peninah has been taunting Hannah for it, provoking her
and making fun of her. Year after year, a dream that is broken again
and again. At a point, the sadness is so deep that she wept in pain.
The man that once she loved couldn't console her. All that is left
is pain of the inability to bear a child, the rejection and
disappointment. Nothing can console her, she refused to eat.
Perhaps for some us is not the inability to bear a physical child,
but a
broken dream instead,
an unfulfilled vision, a devastated conditions. First in love, full
of passion & energy for it but now it's boomerang-ed to push us
down.
Doesn't God care? Is he fair? hey, does he really exist? Whatever
our condition is, perhaps we indirectly ask these questions. Once we
were on fire for God, excited for all that are spiritual, our heart
is full of compassion for soul-winning. But somewhere along the
line, somehow we lost it. We fold our hands as others passionately
praise & worship God. We criticize and being cynical to all the
promises of God. Our inability to experience God becomes the
basis to judge others.
God cares about you. He knows everything you've been through. Yes,
He exists and He is fair. He wants the best for you and for that He
must allow you to go through unfruitful season. The tough conditions
are for us to pass the test and therefore approved for the rewards.
For Hannah, it's Samuel plus 5 more children. For you, only God
knows.
We certainly want to be wise in life and not asking for trouble. But
when we are allowed in tough situations and we've checked ourselves
right with God. Take courage for God has something great ahead you.
Amen.
Hannah refused to eat and he wept in desperation for God. Peninah on
the other hand came to the
house of God
for other reasons. Why are we in church each Sunday? Let's realign
once more with the Scripture.
When we want to receive true blessing from God, we often must endure
the tests first - the tribulations. Only by passing the test, we may
receive the result and be rewarded.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)
This article has not been read and
approved by Pastor Daniel Rachmat. All writings and comments are
based on his sermon on February 21, 2010 at New York City Blessing
Church entitled "Rich God? Poor God?" Please email any question or
comment to danielrachmat@
gmail.com
or info@cityblessing. com read
in PDF
www.CityBlessingChurch.com
Grand Mulia Arts & Culture Center | The
Channel Jakarta | City
Blessing Churches Worldwide | Make
CBC Your Homepage
©2007 City Blessing Church. 38-02 61st Street, Woodside, NY 11377. Webadmin | Office.