God, through thick and thin

SUMMARY: Churches and pastors must prepare their congregations for the inevitable sufferings and adversities that come with being a believer. Often, despite our best efforts, trials will persist, and we must accept that God is sovereign and knows what is best for us. Our sufferings may be because we are doing God's will, and we must trust that He is working positively in our lives. We must maintain an attitude of surrender to God's will, and nothing can separate us from His love.

One of the faults a church or pastor can make is failing to prepare their parishioners for the sufferings, losses, and adversities that will inevitably come into the life of every believer. Particularly churches that emphasize the power of God and move in the Pentecostal movement, we always talk about victory, power and spiritual warfare, but many times we do not talk enough about those times when we may find ourselves going through suffering or illness. , and that they will require a posture of faith and humble obedience to the sovereign will of God.

How many times have you gone through a difficult situation in your life — illness, financial deprivation, difficulties in your job or in your profession? Perhaps there has been a time of spiritual drought, even depression, marital problems, and difficulties in life, and you have prayed to the Lord to pass that cup away from you. You have fasted, and you have confessed all the sins that you can remember and even those that perhaps you could have committed without realizing it. You have reconciled with all the people who did something to you and with whom you have offended. You have rebuked and declared; You have done everything that the Pentecostal manual prescribes to be victorious in the test, and yet the problem, the disease, the difficulty still continues.