For , when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.–2 Cor. 7:5

There can be no doubt but what God had directed Paul to this place, but why would a loving God lead a good man into such a bad situation? An old publication called, “Days of Heaven upon Earth” put it like this:

At first glance this might seem impossible, or at least highly unlikely. However, when one examines the Bible or even takes note of life’s experiences he sees otherwise. Bereavement can be beneficial. If God can make all things work together for good as the Bible proclaims and if God’s grace is sufficient for every need as God promised, then we must believe that even the bitter cup of bereavement can be a blessing.

J. R. Miller said:“One blessing from the breaking of a home circle is that thus we are led to think of our better home. If things went always smoothly with us here, if no flowers ever faded, if there were never any interruption in our earthly joys—we would not think of the enduring things of the eternal and invisible world. It is when earthly good fails us—that we learn to set our affections on heavenly good. Many a man has never found his home in God—until his human nest was desolated by the storms of sorrow!

A bereavement in a household, draws all the family closer together. Love never reaches its sweetest and best, until it has suffered. Homes which never have been broken, may be very happy in love, and very bright with gladness; but, after sorrow has entered as a guest, there is a depth in the love which was never experienced before. It is a new marriage when young parents stand side by side by the coffin of their first-born.”

Since, of the “all things” we experience in life, we consider the death of a loved one to be the most painful, if the grace of God can bring good out of that He can do the same with anything. Rest assured my dear friend that you won’t face anything today, or tomorrow, that cannot result in a blessing of some sort if you but trust God to make a gain out of your loss.

“Fear thou not.” Isaiah 41:10

THE Lord’s people are prone to fear; because they do not realize their relation to God, their interest in the promises of God, and that they are always in the presence of God. How graciously our God forbids our slavish fears, and encourages confidence in Himself! Our slavish fears dishonour Him, our filial confidence glorifies Him. He loves to be trusted; He is grieved by our doubts and fears. We should fear nothing but sin; and if we fear sin, follow holiness and preserve a conscience void of offence toward God and man; if we live upon His word, daily use the open fountain, and cultivate communion with our God, we can have no cause to fear. Beloved, leave anxiety, distrust, and slavish fear, to the poor godless worldling; but trust thou in the living God always, and everywhere. Hope in God; wait upon God; expect from God; follow hard after God; and all you want will be given, and all that would injure you will be frustrated. Be not afraid, only believe; Jesus is with thee; therefore, “FEAR THOU NOT.”

And art Thou with me, gracious Lord,
To dissipate my fear?
Dost Thou proclaim Thyself my God,
My God, for ever near?
Then farewell, anxious, gloomy care,
Since God forbids my soul to fear.–  James Smith

“- – -only believe.” Mark 5:36

That is take God at His word. Give Him credit for meaning what He says, for being faithful to His own word; and then what will become of your fears? God speaks to you in language which you can understand; He promises all you can possibly need; He bids you put Him in remembrance, and plead with Him; and He pledges His character for the comfort of your heart. If you believe not, you make God a liar; you bring darkness on your own soul; you give Satan an occasion against you; and a thousand fears, doubts, and suspicions distress you. Is it any wonder? Can you offer a greater insult to God than deliberately to disbelieve His word? But you ask, Are the promises made to me? Yes, to every one that believeth, and to you if you believe. And the Spirit is promised to work faith in your heart; complain not then of the difficulty of believing, or of the power of unbelief; but go to thy God, and plead with Him, crying, “Lord, increase my faith:” and go to His word, as to the word of a gracious Father, and endeavour to believe it.

O that closer I could cleave
To Thy bleeding, dying breast!
Give me firmly to believe,
And to enter into rest:
Lord, increase, increase my faith;
Make me faithful unto death.

—James Smith, 1840

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. –Deut. 8:6

Believers once knew what it meant to fear God. Men like John Huss and John Wycliffe willingly faced death for refusing to denounce their faith, knowing that God had warned, “If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father.”

Men like Jim Elliot and Nate Saint refused to use their guns against the attacking natives, believing that dying for Christ was far more important than killing unbelievers who would never have another chance at salvation. But this kind of reverence for God and His gospel is rare today.

Today, the church is not only losing its  testimony—it is no longer living up to it. Warren Wiersbe writes in his book, The  Integrity Crisis, these sharp and painful words:

For nineteen centuries the church has been telling the world to admit and confess its sins. Today, in the twilight of the twentieth century, the world is  telling the church  to face up to its sins and to begin living what it preaches.

I might add that is true for us in the twenty-first century!  For hundreds of years, men have stood firm in the gospel despite being persecuted, laughed at, and at times, slaughtered. But a shift has taken place. Now, not only do Christians shy away from persecution and hardship, questioning God in the midst of it, but their lives are full of sin, hiding under the cloak of religion rather than living up to their testimony.

Part of the problem is rooted in our shamefully low viewpoint of God. When we hear truth from God’s Word, we are convicted but not changed; we are challenged but not converted.

It naturally follows that an inferior view of God will birth a shallow view of His Word.

Today, the Bible is not only being questioned and debated, but it is being disobeyed. Why? The fear of the Lord is no longer before our eyes. Christ has become an after-thought, rather than an all-consuming thought.

Reverence for the things of God takes a back seat today in the public arena.  The crowd who claim the name of Christ but float downstream in the current of popular culture find their lives swirling in the eddy of religious pluralism, inclusivism, and universalism— spiraling rapidly downward—moving farther and farther away from distinctiveness and purity. 

This crowd becomes the rule. You must choose to be . . . the exception.

Pray for the kind of faith in God  that Abraham had, the kind of purity that Joseph had, and the kind of heart that David had. Pray that God will teach you to fear and love Him, and ask for strength to live an extraordinary life for Him.– Stephen Davey