02/12/2009
During this time of crisis if we as the church or as individuals find ourselves in a place where we are overwhelmed and without the Grace of God to stand, it is imperative we identify the reason behind that struggle and do the necessary to overcome the situation. Only when we have overcome ourselves first, then we can be a source of light and peace to others.
Even if we are not affected by what is happening or will happen in these times, the truths addressed here have general applications to other areas of life as well.
We will lay out some general principles first and then use them as a foundation to address the more specific issues.
General principles: We need to identify the area of struggle.
Firstly, we have to admit/recognize we have a problem. If we do not know what the problem is then we will not know the solution either. It takes humility to recognize or admit that we have a problem.
Next, we determine the reason for the struggle with the Spirit’s help. This comes by beseeching God’s mercy and Grace asking Him to search our hearts. Only when He shines that light, we will be able to see the reason behind our struggles.
Finally, we need to apply the Spirit’s solution to the problem. This comes with repentance first and then following Him in the pathway of redemption. Many times, we want an easy way out of our mistakes once we have repented, but what we usually don’t realize is even though we might have repented there is still the consequence of our mistakes.
If we have taken a wrong turn and have gone some distance in the wrong pathway, once we realize our mistake we have to turn back and travel back the distance we went astray before we get on the right track. We will do well if we understand this. On the other hand, the CROSS of CHRIST has taken all the consequence of our sins.
Identifying the area of struggle- In this current economic crisis we could be affected in two ways. Either we are fearful (in the wrong way) of what may befall us, or we have experienced loss and do not know the way out, resulting in confusion, depression and lack of vision.
The reason for the struggle- Fear comes out of a lack of trust and dependence on God. Ultimately it has its root in not being yielded to God. Any area that Christ is not Lord over and we are in control of will produce insecurity and fear in us when those areas are challenged, and we are inadequate to handle them.
Now, if we have suffered loss during these times, there could be several reasons to that.
Losses by themselves could be due to bad choices (more specifically buying things we shouldn’t have bought). If so, we have to specifically ask God to show us our heart and motives behind those bad choices. It could be decisions taken out of greed, love of money, pride and so on.
On the other hand, losses are not necessarily the result of bad choices. The apostles’ experienced great trials at times but it was for the glory of God.
If we are confused, depressed and lack vision as a result of the losses we need go back to the root issue again, which is not being yielded to God.
Applying the Spirit’s solution- If the Spirit reveals to us our struggle with fear we need to go before the Lord in humble submission and yield ourselves totally to Him in that area. After we yield, the Lord usually asks us to give up something precious to us in the natural in that area. How we respond will reveal to us whether we have yielded ourselves or not.
When we have made bad choices, we need to repent of them first. We also need to repent of the reasons for our bad choices. Then we have to follow the Lord’s instruction on what to do. Sometimes it could be letting go of what we have inherited as a result of our bad choices, other times it is simply doing what the Lord tells one to do which will redeem the situation.
