trial – PAOLOPUNZALAN.COM

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS

Storms are a natural occurrence in life.

Your boat gets rocked and water might even get into the boat. When those times hit, it is very possible that we switch into panic mode.

The disciples of Jesus were shaken because of the storm. I probably would be too. But here’s the thing:

It doesn’t matter what goes on outside the boat as long as Jesus is in it.

Because Jesus is the Prince of Peace, I can trust that I can face any storm as long as He is with me.

He is both the Peace Maker and the Peace Giver.

He is able to make us at PEACE WITH GOD and give us the PEACE OF GOD.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Here’s a message I shared to explain this further.

“DON’T YOU EVEN CARE?”

Fear has a way of taking over.

Fear stops us dead on our tracks, hindering us from moving forward in faith.

Jesus was with His disciples on a boat on the Sea of Galilee when a squall hit. (Mark 4:35-41)

It wasn’t unusual for storms to build on the Sea of Galilee. When the cold air from Mt. Hermon which is north of the lake mixes with the warm mist of the Sea of Galilee, explosive weather results.

And it usually comes without warning. (Luke 8:24)

How I wish life’s storms come with warning. Unlike Hollywood movies that have background music to prep us when a bad scene is about to happen, unfortunately, life doesn’t have that.

But it is critical to remember the last thing Jesus told you before the storm hit.

In the case of the disciples, Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35)
He didn’t say, “let’s go under” nor did He say, “I will be the only one to go to the other side while you all drown.”
He said we will all cross over to the other side.

Never doubt in the dark
what God has told you in the light.

Jesus’ word should be more than enough. Because God said it then that should settle it.

While the disciples are panicking, Jesus was sleeping.

Their question to Jesus, “Don’t you even care?”

This is predictable and typical. This is our normal response when we go through a difficulty.

My parents are about to split up, God, don’t you even care?
My sister is pregnant out of wedlock, God, don’t you even care?
My brother has cancer, God, don’t you even care?
My friend falsely accused me, God don’t you even care?

Here’s a lesson I’ve seen through the years.

If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.

His promise is that He will be with us to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE

Life is an interesting journey. And THAT is a huge understatement.

As you and I look back this year, you would notice that you may have gone through a series of ups and downs that may seem disconnected from each other.

What we don’t realize, God is the Master Orchestrator who weaves all the events in our lives to work out for our good and ultimately for His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Joseph’s life was an example.

He went from the Pit to the Prison to Potiphar’s house and to the Palace.

THE PIT

Joseph’s brothers hated him. And this was not for no reason. He did have a dream yet approached it with arrogance which ended up his brothers throwing him to the pit.

God allows us to get thrown into a pit to shave off a lot of our arrogance, self-centeredness and imperfections.

If you find yourself in the pit, embrace the process. God is shaping you for His purpose.

POTIPHAR’S HOUSE

It was a promotion.
Being a slave in Egypt was no easy task.
However, his position gave his a lot of freedom with privileges.

The Bible says, “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south, but God is the Judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.” (Ps. 75:6-7)

When you are promoted, give God honor.
Enjoy it and yet remember who set you up to where you are now.
Or else, arrogance may creep in and you may find yourself in another pit.

THE PRISON

Joseph was thrown into prison because he was falsely accused.
Mrs. Potiphar wanted to get him in bed. But Joseph asked the crucial question.

“How can I do this wicked thing and sin against God?”

He was thrown into prison not because he was unrighteous. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He was thrown into prison because he was righteous.
It was a test.

You may find yourself in a position of testing not because of unrighteousness but precisely because you stood for righteousness. In your campus. In your office. In your home.

THE PALACE

Joseph didn’t see it coming. He was faithful to God and while in prison, he just kept serving quietly. He interpreted dreams and when the king needed someone to interpret his dreams, he stepped up to the plate.

God promoted him again. He became second in command over all of Egypt and ended up saving both Egypt and Israel from famine.

What the enemy meant for evil, God is able to turn it around for our good. (Genesis 50:20).

Indeed, God is a turn around specialist.

“TAKE ME OUT OF MY SUFFERING”

“Lord, take me out of this suffering.”

This is often the prayer we utter when we go through a difficult time.
It’s really not a bad thing to pray for this because who wants to keep suffering?

However, getting you out of your circumstance may not necessarily the best thing at the moment.

Paul was stuck in prison for a total of 4 1/2 years.
Stephen was stoned to death and suffered for his faith.
Job lost his family and business though the Bible declared that he was a righteous man.
Jesus was nailed to a cross though He did wish at some point for the cup of suffering be taken away from Him.

God’s Providence.

It is possible that God sees something we can’t and is doing something we are unaware of.
His sovereignty over our life assures us that nothing happens by accident and nothing escapes His attention.

That’s why we are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

We are not to give thanks FOR all circumstances but IN all circumstances.

God’s Process.

Gold doesn’t become gold unless it goes through a process. And part of the process is going through the fire.
Fire removes the dross after which allows the brilliance to come forth.

1 Peter 1:7 tells us “These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

The ultimate result of the process? Genuine faith and the glory of God.

WASTING PAIN

It’s tough when you go through pain.

We all wish we don’t have to go through them. However, God allows them for some reason.

Listen to what Jerry Bridges have to say…

God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29).

(An excerpt from Transforming Grace)

ARE TESTS NECESSARY?

There are moments when God tests us with the very provision He’s given.

Take Abraham for example in Genesis 22. God told Abraham to take his son, his only son, to Mt. Moriah and sacrifice him up there.

Tests are necessary. We don’t like it. Some actually hate it. But we need it. It shows what’s really inside.

You want doctors tested and take their board exams. You want cars tested for safety. You want computers tested so they work well.

Tests are there to bring to surface what’s really inside. For a medical student, the test shows what’s inside their brain.

Tests are not punishments but preparations.

They prepare us for future promotion. Grade 2 students take their final exams to get promoted to Grade 3.

For many of us, God tests to bring promotion – because He DOES have something HUGE in store for the future.

God tested Abraham with the very provision given. The very thing that was promised was now the very thing being taken away? It didn’t make sense. However, at the end, it all did.

When God tests us with the very provision He’s given, He wants to see if…

We’re so focused on the provision that we miss the Provider.
Or we seek His hand rather than His face.
or we pursue the blessing rather than the Blesser.

Tests bring up what’s really in there.

After everything, God’s verdict “NOW I KNOW… that you fear God…”

“NOW I KNOW…”

When God looks inside our hearts, what will He find out?