Pastoral Blog
Jun
10
2010
Struggle + God = Survival
By Rev. Raushanah N. ButlerMost people tend to remember the negative side to the story more than the positive. Most people tend to remember the hurts and the pains more than the joys and the triumphs. Why is it that we tend to cry over the situation forever, but rejoice over victory but for a short while?
Why is that we tend to sulk in our circumstances, when we could dance because we haven‘t been defeated? We are reminded in the Bible to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3). Okay, it’s all fine and good that we have scriptures, but that’s easier said than done. It’s easy to say how we should feel and what our reactions should be.
The difference in just knowing the scriptures and applying the scriptures though is God. For the application of scripture is best done by having a relationship with Him. Now let’s not forget our struggles in the midst of our testimony, because oftentimes we bypass where we came from which allows for ineffective witness at times.
Look at the stories of Joseph and Job. There are several others that come to mind as well, but these two illustrate the title to a tee. Joseph struggled through several things from being rejected by his brothers, to being sold into slavery, to being wrongly accused of rape, to being thrown into jail, to being forgotten about by the butler, only to become the Governor over all of Egypt. Joseph’s relationship with God allowed him to hold on to the promises of God for 13 years and in turn become a wonderful story of survival and triumph; because “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). Joseph’s night lasted for 13 years, but his morning lasted for eternity. HALLELUJAH!!!
And let’s not forget Job…suffering, pain, anguish, adversity, extreme distress and anxiety. The story of Job reminds us that God also specializes in restoration for Job 42:10b says that, “the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before”. PRAISE HIS NAME!!!
See, the reason why these were stories of survival is because God was all up in it. So let’s remember to add God to the equation of struggle so that we can testify about our story of survival!!!
Your Humble Servant,
The Raushanah N. Butler
5 Comments
Dorella Woods2010 06 24
I think the reason that we tend to focus on the negative in our lives is that so many negative things attach themselves to your negative things, leaving a trail of negativity! The joyful doesn’t seem to come as often as the negative! Or, you are finally recovering from a negative situation, them BOOM!-here comes something else negative in its quake.
J. Dewberry2010 07 06Reverend Butler,
Pamela Broyles2010 07 08You “hit the nail on the head”—the scripture, the Biblical characters, and the reminder to rejoice in spite of all things. True, it is about relationship. As HIS children, we do know that all things work together for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose. If GOD is for us, who can be against us? Thanks again for reminding us of the power of Almighty GOD!
PRAISE GOD! The Paster’s blog put it all into perspective.
Karin2010 07 27Thank you, Pastor Kenneth for your great message and encouragement. I really needed encouragement like this, actually for a long time. I was wondering the same, that some of the times it has seemed easier to be and feel negative about the trials I may have gone through. Especially when things happen that get the brethren giving messages of negativity about the trial I went through and the thing that happened that did not look so good, especially to the church, and then all the shame, and so on. I really had to get away and seek God to become positive about what God has taken me through and delivered me from. I mean, I can share and tell the story as I remember it for a testimony, without the shame, write a song to comfort, encourage and inspire others so they will not feel ashamed, and praise God from my whole heart with a joyful victory song & dance. Halleluyah, He is Risen, He’s Alive! God Bless you & Yours, Always.
Stephanie Watson Haynes2010 10 28Lest I forget, the good times and periods of smooth sailing have truely out weighted the valleys in my life. I will continue to look to the hills and hold to Gods unchanging hand.