The tests will come

The widow of 2 Kings 4: 1-7 is in a very serious crisis. She is a servant of God. She has served the Lord all her life alongside her husband, a servant of God. In our time we would say that he was a Pastor, an evangelist, or someone who worked full time in the ministry.

This man has just passed away, and he left debts. Now come the creditors; They come to take their two children to work in slavery until they pay everything they owe. They are going to leave her deprived and in more poverty than she already was. This is a situation of great crisis for this pious family.

The first lesson that I draw from this passage lies precisely in the plight in which this servant of God finds herself.

Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that if we serve the Lord faithfully, behave well, and obey the Word, God will protect us from all affliction. ("I will not have problems, and if I do they will be minor. I will not have financial difficulties, nor any of the normal illnesses that afflict other people"). And unfortunately there are many superficial preachers today who are willing to encourage us in that misconception.

I believe in prosperity. I absolutely believe in blessing the children of God, and that is precisely why I am writing this series of meditations. But it is also important that we understand that trials and difficulties can also come to God's children.

The apostle Peter warns his readers: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fire of trial that has come upon you, as if some strange thing were befalling you" (1 Peter 4:12).

The Bible warns us over and over again that we have to be prepared when afflictions come into our lives. I believe that there is no problem in saying to God's people: “We live in a fallen world, a dangerous world. There will be difficulties ”.

And Christ himself said it in his memorable words: "In the world you will find trouble." Thank God that he did not stay there in that negative diagnosis, but also said: "But trust me, I have conquered the world."

But sometimes we don't dwell long enough on "you will find trouble," and we quickly move on to the positive part of his statement. We are like little children who lick the jam and don't eat the bread, and we give the bread back to Mom so she can put more jam. Sometimes we have to meditate on the dark side of life, on the inevitable conditions that we find in this fallen world.

The important thing is not to ask ourselves if the tests will come. More productive is asking ourselves: When the tests come, how are we going to confront them? Some people get depressed, drop their arms, get angry with God. They stop praying, going to church, growing in the Lord. Others get up, gird themselves on their loins, cry out to the Lord, rush in search of the blessing and medicine that God has for their situation. The children of God do not remain fallen but we rise.

The apostle Paul advises that when evil day comes we put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:13). He calls us to stand firm, and having finished everything, remain firm still.

There are times in life when trials, difficulties come, and the only thing one can do is plant both legs strongly on the word of God and hold out in the name of the Lord until the storm passes — confessing and waiting for blessing, waiting in the Lord, waging spiritual warfare, crying out to God, confessing the Word of God.

The tests are going to come. It is unavoidable. Difficulties come to the lives of the children of God, but the question is: what am I going to do when those tests come? Am I going to stay down, or am I going to open my resource box with the medicines and weapons that God give me to move on?

When the trials come we will say: "In the name of the Lord I will overcome them." No matter what, keep going! If we resist in the bad day, sooner or later the test will cease and victory will come. God has a wonderful purpose for your life. If you trust his mysterious methods, instead of destroying yourself, the test will prove to be God's instrument for your blessing and growth.