By Donald Bohanon
When personal tragedy strikes, as hard as it may seem, we must keep our focus on God. Trials and tests are designed to draw us closer to God, not push us further away. When personal tragedy strikes the lives of true believers and followers of Christ, God expects us to use those circumstances to build a closer more personal relationship with him to get more in tune with what he desires for us, and for us to do. And to get to know him more deeply. To draw us closer to the kingdom. I have seen people who claim to serve God in the face of personal tragedy think it’s a green light to turn up.
They think it’s a sign to work harder to attain personal goals and acquire more personal wealth. The thinking and behavior then devolves into a race to attain more personal belongings and accomplish more goals before they leave this earth, no matter the costs, while being totally dismissive of God’s expectations while seeking wealth, fame, and status, as opposed to a wake-up call to become more obedient to God in terms of keeping his commandments and word to REALLY be prepared when we leave this earth. The Bible tells us that this worlds present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us Romans 8:18
Because the ultimate goal is eternal life in the kingdom of God. To attain a body that will never die, not acquiring more personal stuff that rusts and fades away like the human body. The real purpose behind the trials and tests we suffer is to draw us closer to God and his kingdom. In fact, the whole process of spiritual growth is to draw closer to God and to become more like Jesus Christ and the things we suffer in this life play an important part in that as well. And practically everything we face in terms of critical impactful issues in this life are designed to draw us closer to him as true followers and believers.
Because the comfort from tragedy God provides comes from the answers he provides in his word and through his spirit that guides and comforts us as we follow his word. And the strength to maintain and grow comes from the spiritual strength that God provides through his spirit.
And although wealth is important, God wants us to always put it second in relation to his desire and will for our lives. God tells us to delight ourselves in him, in other words, to be obedient to him in word and deed and love that way of life and he will give us the desires of our hearts. Psalms 37:4. He also tells us above all else he desires that we should prosper and be in good health but as our soul prospers first. 3 John 1:2.
The point is, everything must center around obedience and a change in behavior to mirror the righteousness outlined in his word for us to prosper (but the acquiring of wealth alone is not indicative of righteousness necessarily, in all cases, many who don’t sincerely and intentionally follow what’s outlined in his word are wealthy also) because he knows wealth without true spiritual growth and maturity is a recipe for disaster and the truest, surest way, to distance yourself from him and fall into the arms of Satan and worldly lusts and pulls of the flesh with all the pride, greed, lust, jealousy, hatred, anger, bitterness, and idolatry etc that comes with that.
So when we face trials and tests on occasion we must view them as an opportunity to draw closer to God not be drawn into what the world deems as impressive and important. God tells us spiritual growth and maturity are what’s really important and we should use every opportunity as a way to grow closer to him for our eternal benefit.
Sincerely and intentionally obey his ten commandments and word from the heart and apply it to your life. Study Psalms and Proverbs to start with for easier understanding and comprehension reading 3-5 chapters per day which is enough for retention. Always ask God for understanding and always allow the Bible to interpret itself. And pray that he gives you the holy spirit to strengthen you, teach you, comfort you, and lead you.
Pray daily asking God to remove anything from your life that’s in conflict with his word. In fact, pray about 4-5 five times a day especially, for something like an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or sex, etc. Long drawn out prayers are not necessary be sincere, blunt and direct and God will hear and take it to heart and get to work based on your obedience. After all the Bible says we are not to use long drawn out prayers like the hypocrites who seek to be praised by men but we are to keep it sincere, heartfelt, direct, and blunt and God hears it because we are righteous Matthew 6:1-8.
A righteous man doesn’t need to do a whole lot in terms of prayer because God’s ear is already open to them because they do what’s pleasing to him by obeying his ten commandments and word John 9:31. The Bible says the effectual fervent prayers of a righteous man or woman availeth much James 5:16. The Bible also says if you are a righteous man or woman consistently pleading with God through prayer he is more inclined to respond quicker according to his will Luke 18:1-5.
And also that he hears the prayers of the righteous and not the wicked John 9:31. And always practice thought stopping which is something Christ used whenever a sinful thought tried to enter his mind. Instead of embracing and lingering on the thought he would immediately clear it out of his mind. Do these things and God will remove and or heal any addictions and transform you into a righteous individual and make the Bible easily understandable and come alive to you.
God is focused more on quality as opposed to quantity. He is looking for servants who are totally obedient to him and everything contained in his word. Not individuals who allow difficult circumstances to destroy their faith and obedience and instead follow what the world views as good and acceptable, while following the world’s/Satan’s lead. Because after all, his servants will be given rulership over the whole universe, so God has to know he can have absolute trust and faith in them.
Think eternal life, limitless unmatched intelligence, limitless power, limitless knowledge, limitless wisdom, limitless love, limitless joy, and rulership in the kingdom of heaven and on earth. And eventually rulership over the whole universe after God brings the universe to life through the power of his glorified spirit-born sons. Let that be one part of your motivation. Because this is the future of the servants of God. Revelation 1:5-6, Revelation 5:10. But there are no off days when serving God. Developing righteous character through sincere obedience to God and his word is what’s required. The road to the kingdom of God is a marathon, not a sprint.