When faith hurts

You said, 'I'm the apple of your eye', I know for a fact.

You said, 'you've exalted me far above principalities and powers', I have never doubted.

Lord, I serve you and you have said that my foot shall not be moved, a stance I believe in toto.

Why these attacks, sufferings and troubles?

In life, our experiences juxtaposed with the word, make the Bible seem contradictory sometimes.

We may think that we're not doing something right.

But God, you said, ' I'm the righteousness of God, chosen for your own use.

Look at the unbelievers Lord, they are prospering, where did I go wrong?

I have trusted Jehovah Jireh, it didn't work, Jahweh, Shalom, Tsidkenu, but the problems keep on aggravating.

I fasted and prayed and you showed me in an open vision, this is the end of all pains and sorrows. But the afflictions have multiplied in square roots.

I did not only pay tithe but sowed seeds and fruits, not in a mosque nor a shrine but in your own house. How come the finances are still bad?

Sometimes faith hurts and it appears foolish to keep on trusting.

But, ask Paul, he was beaten not with canes but rods and later imprisoned. It was in prison that he was ministered to that God is with him. Doesn't it seem absurd? You were with me, they beat me up and you did not rescue me, now I'm in prison and you say you're with me, Paul would definitely retort.

Jesus, the son was forsaken on the cross. He endured hostility and shame contrary to his deity.

Dear, we do not follow Christ because of what he'll give us. We came to know him that he will give us salvation.

In life's darkest storms where frustrations abound and disappointments compound, there is still a saviour who shares in our griefs and woes.

We are not in the church because of a promotion, job, marriage or success.

Polycarp, the aged Bishop of Smyrna was dragged by a mob to the Ronan magistrate. He was offered a choice to sacrifice to the godhead of Caesar and recant his faith in Christ. Listen to the words of Polycarp," eighty and six years have I served Christ and he has done me no wrong ; how can I blaspheme my King who saved me". They put him in fire and he didn't die then they stabbed him to death. But our glorification us not in our living but in our dying for except s grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone but when it dies, it bears much fruit.

We came to know him. We came for him to fill the emptiness in our heart. The greatest miracle is SALVATION. Trouble or no Trouble, GOD CARES.

-Joshua Opoku, Email: opoku.joshua10@yahoo.com, Contact Nos: 0201122148/ 0241691087