I had someone recently ask me in response to one of my Be Strong FB campaigns, “What can an invisible and imaginary god do?? If god could help us we surely would not be controlled, divided and deluded… wake up and face reality.”

My non-apologetic response to this individual was that my reality is my God and my God is my reality. Furthermore, the goal of a Christian isn’t to strive for a trouble-free existence, but to better handle the ongoing nature of unexpected trials and unwanted circumstances. The basing of our goal on the solutions to our problems keeps us continually tied to their outcome. Christ came to teach us that our solution rest only to our salvation in Him. (Read I Peter 4:12-19)

Brothers and sisters, too often we go to God in efforts for Him to fix our problem(s) when all He wants to do is fix us first! When we learn from Him how to have peace regardless of our circumstances, then we can break free from our sufferings in spite of what is going on around us! Our relief and/or victory is not contingent on resolutions or rescues but on Christ alone!

2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, He’s being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

When we experience sufferings James reminds us to count it all joy (James 1:2-4) Paul reminds us that Christ’s power rest on us (2 Corinthians 12:9), and Peter reminds us the Spirit of God rests on us during trials (I Peter 4:14).

At the end of the day, we all want peace and tranquillity, but while evil is still prevalent in our world we will have to take heart (courage) and continue to be strong (Joshua 1:9)! Which is why God inspired me to create the BE STRONG yard sign. GOD unequivocally knows that with Him on our side and as long as we stay connected to each other we will get through this TOGETHER.

The late and beloved Apologist R.C. Sproul said, “Jesus suffered for us. Yet we are called to participate in His suffering. Though He was uniquely the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, there is still an application of this vocation for us. We are given both the duty and the privilege to participate in the suffering of Christ.”