Women's Devo | July 2021

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16)

Persecution, trials, tribulations...not many knew it like the Apostle Paul. A man who once was on the other side of the fence-tormenting God’s people had now given his life for the gospel. Persecution arose on every side of him. For every step he took to preach Christ, there was a thorn in the flesh to buffet him, to which he pled of God three times to remove, and the Lord told him that His grace was sufficient.  Paul had learned through the power of God, the sufficiency of Christ. God was prevalent in Paul’s life now that he could declare that although he was persecuted and tried on every side, he was yet not destroyed. His outer body may have been perishing but his inner man was being renewed day by day. He had this testimony like Job, “though He slay me—yet will I trust in Him”. (Job 13:15)

Persecution, trials, tribulations...they have a way of trying us—refining us if we let them. Today, many believers are beginning to turn back to the beggarly elements of this world. They are walking away from the fundamentals of Christianity, abandoning the Christian’s perspective about life, and moving towards a post-modernistic worldview. Some have forgotten that as trials and tribulations arise, we have an unction from the Holy Ghost to press into the face of God even more!

Some say, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, I will tell you when life hands you trouble and persecution, make haste to pray! Jesus said, “men should always pray and not faint”. (Luke 18:1) See, Paul had learned not to faint because he trusted the LORD. He was a man of prayer. Jesus was a man of prayer. His sufficiency was that of the Father. The Father’s will was His priority and communication with the Father was preeminent in His life. Before Jesus was given up to be sacrificed on the cross, He sought God diligently in prayer. “Lord not my will but thy will be done” was His cry and plea. (Luke 22:42)

Sisters, as we go through various trials, as we see evil days approaching, we must pray, “God not my will but your will be done” just as Jesus did.  Even though Paul petitioned God three times to remove the thorn in his side, he recognized that God’s will was being done in his life and there was purpose in his pain. Sure, no one enjoys sufferings. I know that none of us like trials and tribulations. We are not talking to one another like, “Girl, let me tell you about the trial God allowed me to go through on today! Praise the Lord!” Absolutely not. Our human emotional nature is diametrically opposed to troubles. But my sisters, troubles are a part of a fallen world. Troubles can make us or break us, but we must be assured that we are not built to break! The Christian’s worldview about adverse circumstances must be biblical. It must be rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus, who suffered being beaten and slaughtered for the sins of humanity. Just like Jesus’ death on the cross, the trying of our faith resurrects us to new life.  We continue to walk in the newness of life as our faith grows, as we are tested and refined by the fiery trials of life.

You see, Paul could say that although his natural man was dying, the inner man was living! Daily, he was being renewed just as we must be renewed in our minds through the word of God and prayer. We must pray and not faint! We are instructed to wait on the Lord, and He will renew our strength. So, while we are waiting, we must also stay PRAYING or we will faint!
After Jesus gave His parable on how men ought to pray and not faint, He asked, “when I return—shall I find faith in the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Trust in the Lord. Pray and do not faint. I know that you may be going through hard times but hang in there! Keep fighting the good fight of faith.  Be blessed and trust in God with all your heart. Know that you are blessed and highly favored by the LORD, and He is simply a prayer away! Shall He find faith when He returns?