In Paul’s 2nd epistle to the Corinthian church he mentions the ‘trouble which came to him’ and, being ‘pressed out of measure’…

2 Cor. 1: 8-10 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will deliver us.

There are many troubles that come our way on the journey that God has planned for us, which seem to have the sentence of death on our lives…(not necessarily a physical death, that puts us in the coffin), but very difficult circumstances that can affect us on our daily walk and distract us from keeping our eyes on Jesus. e.g; physical problems in our body, difficulties in our work situations, problems in family and other relationships etc. All these can drag us down into a pit of despair, which like the ‘sentence of death’ on our spiritual walk with Christ, if we do not realise the process God, our loving Heavenly Father, is taking us on. He is still the God who raises the dead, He is still the God who does deliver, and He is still the God in whom we trust, that will yet deliver us.

First of all I must bow, in my heart to the truth of His word. Romans 8: 35-39 says NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ. Not tribulation, not distress, not persecution, not famine, not nakedness peril or sword, And though, as mentioned in verse 36 : We are KILLED all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter, in all these things we are more than conquerors. Paul says in verse 38 “that he is persuaded that neither DEATH, nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, ( that includes any other person), shall be able to separate us from the love of God,” (our Heavenly Father,) which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…

WOW!! How inclusive, how comprehensive is that?

Trouble is not in trouble! Trouble or tribulation is in my heart’s attitude to trouble. I must change my attitude or believing, and let God be true!

In letting God be true I must bow in my heart, and change my believing to understand that deliverance IN my circumstances, is more glorifying to God than deliverance FROM my circumstances. As I bow to this truth, I find God gives me that ‘peace which passes all my understanding, and keeps my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.’ ( Philip 4 v 7 )

The three Hebrew children – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Daniel 3: 19-30. When threatened with death, declared, that they knew that God could deliver them, but if not, we will not bow to the tyrannical king. They were delivered IN the situation, because Jesus was in it with them. God  delivered them and was glorified in the situation, just as Daniel was delivered IN the lions den. God kept the lions mouth shut.

So, do I understand that the process God is working in, and using, is to bring me into a place of overcoming, to make me more than conqueror, and conform me into, the image of His Son, Jesus?

The indwelling Christ, the abiding Christ, has passed through the test of death and risen victoriously and been placed within each of us ( in His Body ) to make us more than conquerors…Such love, such power, but I must yeild  and surrender my own understanding and opinions of the circumstances and LET GOD BE TRUE, to experience it.

May our Heavenly Father, by His grace, enable us to walk in this truth!!