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“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18)
The present time is coloured, laced and overcharged with challenges, ranging from insecurity, crimes, economic issues (unemployment, Inflation, Scarcity of resources) to family challenges. The target of the devil is to make your Christian life difficult and eventually make you to deny your faith. The challenges will not abate, but rather it will be on the increase, for this is the sign of the end time, else the scripture will be untrue. The good thing is that you can actually ride over these challenges to destiny. Let us consider two areas of challenges:
Family/marital Challenges:
The family is the most vital institution in nation building. Whatever gets rooted in the family arena robs on the nation. The challenges in the family includes financial inadequacy, lack of unity, disobedient and wayward kids, divorce, abuse, The stronger the family, the stronger the church and the nation, hence the renew attack of the devil on the family. In overcoming this challenge, it is necessary for you to run your home with the ‘Act’ that established the family.
Crisis of Faith:
Another challenge that characterizes the time we live in is the crisis of faith. This occurs in the life of a believer when situation of life makes him to doubt the love of God and begins to consider the idea of dropping the issue of serving God. Question like; ‘why this and this in my life?’ starts coming up in your mind, you start to consider whether this faith thing is worth it or the workability of it. It seems as if what you believed in is not working and that there is nothing to show for the years of your faith-life. Apostle Paul refers to this period as perilous time in (2 Timothy 3:1). To this end therefore the drowning believers are of the opinion that faith in God is not just enough to take one to the promise land.
We need to go back to the bible, and we must not adopt another gospel.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, Preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians’:8)
It is not God’s intention for life challenges to capsize your life and destiny.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
In overcoming the challenges of life, we want to consider the following:
The God Factor:
“… For without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5)
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us” (Psalm 124:2)
When Peter was facing the challenges of failure and economic emptiness (Luke 5:1-6), he allowed Jesus Christ the use of his boat. The result was an abundance of fishes.
King David had national and economic challenges and consequently the crisis of judgment. In the midst of it all, he decided to take side with God. The result was that God had mercy on him and on the nation. (2 Samuel 24:14). Another King Saul, had a civil challenge and decided to consult the familiar spirit. He ended up meeting his water-loo. (1 Samuel 28:6-7).
God has given us the assurance of help in the time of crisis.
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shall glorify me”. (Psalm 50:15)
Make up your mind that you’ ll not fail. Apostle Paul did made up his mind not to fail in the midst of his entire ordeal. Hear him:
“For I am persuaded, that neither death…. nor principalities ……shall be able to separate me from the love of God …” (Romans 8:38, 39).
Let God be your strength in these days of adversity. Your strength will definitely fail you, but if you will exchange your weakness for God’s strength, you will surely overcome.
“If thou faintin the day of adversity, thy strength is small (Proverbs Z4:10)
Plan Your Life:
In most cases, an unplanned area of a city (slum) is characterized by increased violent, social ill, low level of health and hygiene, high mortality rate etc. Economic challenges often times have overwhelming expression in an unplanned life. Planning your life has to do with you setting in place or putting down a template of what you want to do with your life, more than that you’ve got to live out the plan i.e. work it out. Draw out a plan for your finances, marital life, children, retirement and spiritual life. Run your life on apredetermined course. One of the ills life challenges bring to people is diversion. Whatever life throws at them is what they take and wherever life pushes them to is where they go.
This supposes not to be so if you have actually planned your life. Once diverted, struggling, confusion and unfulfilment set in. An unplanned life will be drowned by life challenges and will eventually end up as a slum (down-town or ghetto so called).
Picture a Glorious Future:
In overcoming these pressing challenges, you need to create a picture of a glorious future. See the good end of your life, the picture of a better you, a better career, a healed person etc. This will propel you to move forward in life.
“Looking unto Jesus … who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2)
I once asked some of the Nigerian migrants to Europe via Sahara desert (Niger and Libya, by road) and the Mediterranean Sea (by ferry), why the risk? This is what most of them said; “we had in our minds the picture of a beautiful Europe as the ‘promise land’ and the hope of getting there kept propelling us and hence the risk”.
In conclusion, challenges are part of the packages of life. They are not meant to destroy us but to make us.
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”. (Acts 14:22)
Make up your mind that you will make heaven despite challenges. Let heaven be your sleeping and walking thought.
Olusanya Leye
Leye writes for The Reaper’s Voice publication
