Stay Strong, Making A Difference

 

DAILY VITAMIN

- Stay Strong, Making A Difference

"...be you steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Most times, the trials we face bring out a new part of ourselves we never knew. Sometimes good, other times horrible. Oftentimes, a lot of times we find ourselves doing strange things we never thought we were capable of just to keep up. Things we are mostly ashamed of. I have seen more poor people end up doing terrible things than good. So yes, hardship more times than not bring out the worst in us. That's why the sage wrote "...less I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." (Proverbs 30:9). 

And believe me, this isn't just about you, it's about all of us. Even the best of us. I've been there, so miserable in faith because of what I was going through, and so was David. So much that he wrote, "For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; less the righteous put forth their hands to iniquity." Then he went ahead to add: "Do good, O LORD, to those that be good and to them that are upright in their hearts." (Psalm 125:3-4). That was a plea. David was pleading with the Lord to help the righteous prosper because he understood how constant hardship can bend even the strongest of us. Consider how he was on verge of slaughtering Nabal and all who lived in his home all because he was hungry (1 Samuel 25:4-35). SO believe me, men do horrible things when their backs are against the wall. 

Many years ago, a group of scientist conducted a morality test experiment called the Trolley Problem and till today it still proves that we mostly tend to do things we once thought were beneath us when in a difficult situation. However, we can be different because we have a renewed spirit. We have strength from above. We have the comforter, and He helps us to retain this new nature of ours in Christ even in the most difficult of times. 

Yet that doesn't mean, many haven't fallen at such times. You see, our falling away or ability to stay strong lies in which we aptly believe: the circumstance before us or God's Word to us. And a lot of times, people get blinded to what the word says when the harsh circumstances in their lives become like a dark cloud around them. Then comes the depression, the doubting, and finally the compromise against all required to attain the very promise they once yearned for. Like I said, I've seen this many times. I've been around the poorest of the poor; and I've seen how some little girls have sold themselves just to feed their families; how some young men have taken to ill vices just to survive. . Go to southeast Asia, come to Africa, Eastern Europe, even most parts of Central America and you'd catch a whole glimpse of this. It is real. I'm not condoning it nor justifying it, but I see the mechanism that led to it. 

While it is true that some of us are stonger than others, does it mean we should leave the weak to their fate? No. Not even God agrees with that. He says "Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputatations" (Romans 14:1). In Jude, He explains better: "And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire..." (v. 22-23). In both cases, He's telling us to hate the sinful act but love the person, and to help them beat their present predicament where we can.

So, to those of you stuck between a rock and a hard place, passing through hell as it seems, I wish I could do more than just encouraging you to stay stong, knowing that a great reward awaits you. But there is one. Hebrews 10:35-36 states that you should "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompence of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you might have done the will of God, you might receive the promise." Thus, please stay strong, hold on. I know you have needs, and honestly I wish I could do more for you, I wish I had the means to; however I believe God will help you. That's why He brought us together, to help one another in every way possible so that no one falls off. 

Hence, if you have enough, help the other fellow who doesn't. The other fellow who's liable to derail from the faith. Help keep them in and help meet their needs as simply as you can, then load them with the Word to have them strongly planted in the faith again. That's all we can really do. The world is always going to be this way--filled with difficulties; that's why we've got to have each other's backs. Ask about what the other Christian is lacking and where you can help, do help. And if you are the one in need, approach a fellow Christian who has enough as God may direct and I'm certain you will be helped. It's how He sustained the Christians of old (Acts 4:32-35).

Again remember, the strong wind of tribulation will constantly blow against the righteous, but Jesus said "...be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). So, yes stay strong, and if you are already...strong, make a difference in as much lives as you can. And may the good Lord bless you.