“God is not mad at you.” Where is the biblical backing for that statement? We will get there in a moment. For now, please consider two important concepts…
1) Trials are not always punishment. For the believer, they are far more likely to be purification (separating holy from unholy).
2) The length of trial does not equate God’s distancing from you.
The enemy wants to drive a wedge between us and God, especially during times of drudgery, when we see little evidence of any breakthrough. But if Christ suffered in this world, so will we at times (though lessened greatly from what He experienced on our behalf). And we know the Father loves the Son. Therefore, any suffering we might endure here does not mean God does not love us. He absolutely does!
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. ~John 3:16, AMPC
Long-suffering (i.e., trials) is not evidence of God’s rejection. It may feel, and perceptually, you may be convinced, God has forsaken you. The correct answer? NEVER.
[F]or He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] ~Hebrews 13:5b, AMPC
There is a time variance between prayer and answer, just as between Heaven and earth. Our life span may be 70 years, or 80, or even a hundred. Yet, we all want immediate results from God since He is providential, and all powerful, and since He knew beforehand everything that would ever happen in our lives. Things, from our view, should be instantaneous and perfect. We can get pushy and demanding with God! We tend to pout in our emotions and disown the fact this is the basis for much of our soul's sorrow.
Why does God tarry?
For one thing, Heaven is eternal. Time never, ever runs out in God's Presence. Imagine that! See Heaven in your heart, soul and mind. Seek God's face! Our response to eternal truth should be an immediate gravitational pull toward Christ Jesus. We certainly want to spend "the rest of forever" in the right place—Heaven, not Hell. These are very real places and two distinct choices that every person must make here on earth (Deut 30:19, AMPC). There is one way in the door of Heaven and that is through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 2:8; John 14:6, KJV). Earth, in contrast, is temporal. It will be remade, but we are not yet at that holistic, universal stage (Rev 21, KJV). Rather, we are in "mini" versions, our whole life long.
For another, patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit of God (Gal 5:22-23, AMPC). It is important to Him. Things take time here. Patience is a God granted, God infused, God ordained quality that He wants to instill in us. Patience is an opportunity for us to exercise our faith, and dialogue with God in a respectful manner. Patience is a window through which God downloads bits of His eternal mindset to us. Goals that are proper take time and effort to achieve. We cannot rush quality. We cannot thwart the principle of Sabbatical rest. We cannot cheat the development stages of all things good and holy. If we cut corners on the biblical processes, we get something cheap, breakable, useless, and ultimately disappointing, like dust. However, we can always extract an eternal lesson from the Divine ~ from the midst of every mistake, there is a seed we can sow in righteousness again. We can hold a good expectation of the unfolding seasons that lie before us.
God can place you in a level country (Psalm 143:10, AMPC).
God can make it rain (Jas 5:17, AMPC).
Like a fallen apple on the ground decays, the seed inside sprouts a whole new thing, a chance at new growth. The essence of your soul is the same. Can you dream a new dream? Revive your faith? Choose to believe on no matter what you see?
[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. ~Romans 4:18, AMPC
If God can wait patiently for all of history (His-Story) to unfold, so can we. Impatience is reading only the last page of a beautiful novel, hearing only the last note of a symphonic composition. When we push our own life out of our way, we are, much of the time, left confused and soul-empty without an overarching purpose or theme. This is dry living. Aspirations must have long-term meaning or they hold no lasting contentment. Honorable destinations require long-awaited, challenging journeys to truly arrive. Do not be afraid of suspense!
Finally, trials are the course of the saints. Our calling is not always easy, but it is worth it. Trust God is ALWAYS working ALL things out for your good.
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. ~Rom 8:28, AMPC
He is always working a richer plan than ours, and thinking a higher thought than ours (Prov 3: 5-6, AMPC). This does not mean we will always understand it all. On the contrary; it means we won't! During periods of time, we will disagree and get frustrated with ambiguity. But the key is relationship. Do you love God? Do you enjoy life? Do you trust Him? You see, God is interesting. God is challenging. God is beautiful. God is never boring. What a MIND He has! What a STORY He creates! What a PICTURE He paints! Don’t miss a thing—watch it all. He wants you to constantly learn of Him, and live authentically.[1] Therefore,
Do not be afraid of change.
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. ~1 John 4:18, AMPC
God is not mad at you!
Trials simply bring about patient endurance.
For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. ~Heb 10:36, AMPC
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. ~Jas 1:2-8, AMPC
Trials are temporary. God simply wants you to grow something of eternal quality throughout your life. You will renew. That stubborn thing will change. The next obstacle will challenge you. The next clearing of grace will refresh you. If you ask, He will tell you why (John 16:24, AMPC). God will enable you to master all of your beautiful story. Have faith in His writing ability (Heb 12:2, KJV). He is the Master of you.
So...what is the correct attitude toward challenges that lie before us?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Phil 4:13, NKJV
It helps to say the above verse out loud, and also: “God is not mad at me. Christ assures it.” Let’s look at Scripture to confirm this is actually the case:
While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly.
Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble and lovable and generous benefactor someone might even dare to die.
But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God.
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life. ~Romans 5:6-10, AMPC
Satan works overtime to condemn us in our own thoughts and feelings, stripping us of a desire to live, let alone FIGHT the GOOD FIGHT of FAITH. Plead the blood of Christ over your life!
You are many things in Him--one of which is a Warrior or Warrioress. Through Him, you are reconciled with God and you are, therefore, a FORCE on the earth to be reckoned with.
Romans 5:10 above states: We were reconciled...we are reconciled. Reconciliation or katallassó is an eternal word. There is no expiration date. Reconciliation means:
[I]ntensifying…down to an exact point, to decisively change, as when two parties reconcile when coming to the same position. [It] is applied to marriage partners…in the redemptive sense of a sinner reconciling to the Lord. Katallasso was originally used for the exchange of coins: properly, to…exchange (especially of money); hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship.[2]
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance adds, “to change mutually.”[3] So what is your choice? Relationship or rejection? Christ or the enemy? Heaven or Hell?
Do not be afraid to change your mind (repent) and come to the same position (before God) as Christ holds.
God, through the blood of Christ, has permanently changed His mind toward you! Christ’s blood paints the mercy seat at your judgment. It covers the Court and everything you have ever done wrong or will do wrong in the future. WHAT LOVE! This act is the EPITOME of FORGIVENESS and ACCEPTANCE. When we “plead the blood of Christ” we are purified and we come in safe.
YOU ARE: forgiven, loved, accepted, and
ETERNALLY wanted.
Heaven would not be the same without you.
God does not condemn believers who abide in Christ Jesus.
Trials purify us to make us better, to make us more like Him, to help us adopt the Blood. Christ has already done all the “making up” needed between you and your Creator. Christ PAID for you, exchanged HIMSELF for YOU. You can enter Heaven with a free ticket in your hand and love in your heart, and you can pull Heaven down into your now because of Him. Plead the Blood! Paint the earth with it. We are saved from the wrath of God! Therefore, do not fear trials. Overcome them by the blood of the Lamb. It is your very purpose.
We expect a lot out of God. He is Perfect. But, in turn, He expects a lot out of us, and makes us perfect.
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~Matt 5:48, NIV
God is not mad at you.
Isn’t it amazing what Christ has already done?
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
King James: Public Domain.
[1] Authentic: Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, or counterfeit; being what it purports to be; genuine; true. Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, (accessed May 15, 2021), http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/authentic.
[2] Helps Word Studies, “2644. Katallasso,” (accessed May 15, 2021), https://biblehub.com/greek/2644.htm.
[3] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, “2644. Katallasso,” (accessed May 15, 2021), https://biblehub.com/greek/2644.htm.
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