The peace of God be with you all in the name of Jesus.
Life is full of challenges, conflicts, problems, tests, challenges and great adversities.
Facing adversity is part of life, even the kind of adversity that threatens our faith. King David gives us wise advice about it.
As part of his final blessing to his son Solomon, David said:
You will be prosperous, if you take care to implement the statutes and decrees that Jehovah sent to Moses for Israel. Fight, then, and take courage; Do not fear or faint (1 Cr 22:13).
It is very timely advice for us today, since it is still true that obedience always brings blessing.
Again and again in the law of Moses, we see the word keep. The children of Israel were ordered to keep the law and the commandments, keep the Sabbath, keep their oaths to God and protect themselves against evil. When leading them at the beginning of their covenant relationship with God, Moses said to the children of Israel:
Then keep the words of this covenant and put them to work, so you can prosper in everything you do (Deut 29: 9).
Saving means "grab and treasure" at the same time. In the face of each adversity, that should be our attitude, understand the Lord above all and treasure our relationship with Him. Instead of blaming God or turning away from Him, we must turn to God and rely on his help. Obeying God in the face of adversity leads us to prosperity, which is the improvement of our current condition.
When facing adversity, the people around you can criticize you for holding on to faith or reaffirming your belief in the goodness and benevolence of God as your heavenly Father. Maybe they make fun of you or ridicule you. Do not fear or faint when that happens. Keep keeping the Word of God and remain faithful in your relationship with the Lord. Remember what David said:
Because I hear the slander of many; Fear assails me everywhere, as they consult together against me and think about taking my life. But I trust you, O Jehovah; I say: you are my God. In your hand are my times; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and my persecutors (Psalm 31: 13-15).
Ask the Lord to give you courage to endure the hurtful comments of others and to give a firm testimony of God's power and presence, even in your most difficult test.