In the words of Roseannene-Roseanne-a-Dana: “If it ain’t one thing it’s another!” (She was a character played on Saturday Night Live in the late 70’s.) The Bible puts it this way: “In the world you will have tribulation”; therefore, we can anticipate difficulties. How we handle the tribulations that come our way is very important.

John 16:33 (KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Recently the Lord gave me a personal word, it was very encouraging and then I had to make a very troubling decision. It has taken me hours to pray it through. As you can see on the time stamp below my signature it is early in the morning, I have been awake since about 4AM. It has taken me about 12 hours to develop peace regarding my decision to travel to a place that I consider Nineveh, like Jonah I don’t want to go, unlike Jonah I made the decision to go. (I am not going to be swallowed by life’s giant fish!) I went to bed thinking that this trip is not about the intended purpose, to attend a funeral, but about facing giants in preparation for what He has for me to do, according to the Word I received.

Two books come to mind this morning Job and Pilgrim’s Progress, one is biblical the other is fiction based on biblical principles. In both cases the man went through difficult times to get to the end God had planned.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Traveling to my Nineveh brings back painful memories that I did not want to revisit. But I am a child of God and therefore I can endure it, One of my arguments for not going is that verse in the Bible where it states: “And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.” (Matthew 13:57 KJV). I understand that I am not going to communicate God’s word to anyone but I may have an opportunity to plant seeds of redemption by my behavior. Going to Ninevah was never about Jonah’s blessing but the deliverance of its’ residents. Scripture teaches, I just completed a study on the topic, that our obedience is the key to God’s blessings.

So how do you find balance? Like I did- by listening to more word of God than opinions of man. YouTube has church services and the Bible (in various translations, though I prefer King James) for anyone to listen to; it is also possible to download an audible version of the Bible. I would suggest you eliminate or cutback on the amount of information you receive that does not agree with God’s word, the Liberal media really does present information in the form of news but is not accurate. Stop spending so much time with unbelievers. The scales should be uneven, you should be spending more time with God than you do with the world.

Written by Marsha L Floyd
Thursday, September 19, 2024 6:14:00 AM
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