Hebrews 12 ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.


When things get tough, whether it be physically, in our emotions, relationships, mistakes, finances, or other areas we must have a greater understanding of God then the western world around us.

When we as believers face trouble, whatever it may be, we must look to the scriptures to see that trouble does not mean God has left us or God is against us but rather He is loving us through this hardship.

The writer of Hebrews shows us that we should endure hardship as discipline, that it is a sign that you are part of the family of God and what kind of Father would God be if he did not discipline His sons and daughters.

God is the perfect Father so we believe what we are going through is perfect for us.

That is why we should as David did, compare our lives only to the Love of God not the life of someone else.

We now have an even greater comparison then David for although the spirit of God spoke the coming of Christ through him he never saw the fulfillment of that word as we have now seen it and know it to be true through scripture and our hearts.

Let us compare our current troubles to that of which Jesus Christ humbled himself...to very death itself, even when he lived the only flawless life that has ever been lived.

Perfect love drives out all fear.

When we see that God is Love and that He has shown us this and truly lived it out to the point of death we can be set free of the fear of failure and of suffering and of every other kind of fear this life brings.  God does not drive away suffering he drives out the fear of it.

Compare your life to His love and great joy will fill your heart by grace through faith.

Not only will we see that the hardship (if you can call it hardship living on the northern beaches) is God's way of disciplining us but we will see that without pain it is impossible to truly become the chosen people of God's Kingdom, for it is pain and suffering and our response to it in this life that reveals whether the grace of Jesus Christ is truly in us and completing its work in our hearts and lives.

Now don't be discouraged if you haven't responded well to trouble lately or in the past, but just as I have to consistently, let's as followers of Christ fix our eyes again not on the things of this world but on Christ who is seated far above this world and that we also by His grace through the work of the cross and the power of the resurrection have been seated in heavenly realms with Him.

Our joy is not reliant on us but on the completed work of Jesus Christ.

This I pray will set us free to be the hands and feet of a lost generation that need this good news preached through action, word and lifestyle.

As we see the perfect love of Christ I believe we can stop worrying about the little hardships we are facing in this life, that Paul describes as light and momentary and begin to reveal the joy that is beyond all joys in Jesus Christ.

This is your salt, this is your light.

With no suffering there is no discipline, with no discipline there is no growth, with no growth there is no righteousness and peace. 

Righteousness and Peace is what Jesus came to bring, right relationships with God, people and within ourselves and peace between God, people and within ourselves.

Be encouraged today the Father must love you.  Don't skip out of the race there are many who have gone before you and they are cheering you on from the stands of heaven. 

+jk

If you can read this scripture and Matthew Henry's commentary please do!
I couldn't really say it better so this is a blog by others that help me.   

Habakkuk 2

 ¹ I will stand at my watch
       and station myself on the ramparts;
       I will look to see what he will say to me,
       and what answer I am to give to this complaint. ^[a]

The LORD's Answer

 ² Then the LORD replied:
       "Write down the revelation
       and make it plain on tablets
       so that a herald ^[b] may run with it.

 ³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
       it speaks of the end
       and will not prove false.
       Though it linger, wait for it;
       it ^[c] will certainly come and will not delay.

"When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of Providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. When we have poured out complaints and requests before God, we must observe the answers God gives by his word, his Spirit, and providences; what the Lord will say to our case. God will not disappoint the believing expectations of those who wait to hear what he will say unto them. All are concerned in the truths of God's word. Though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and abundantly recompense us for waiting. The humble, broken-hearted, repenting sinner, alone seeks to obtain an interest in this salvation. He will rest his soul on the promise, and on Christ, in and through whom it is given. Thus he walks and works, as well as lives by faith, perseveres to the end, and is exalted to glory; while those who distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him. The just shall live by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. Only those made just by faith, shall live, shall be happy here and for ever." - Matthew Henry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6-7

There are a couple things I get anxious about, okay a lot, CHANGE, my family, church, money, people's opinion's of me, future, past, mistakes, more mistakes, leaders, friends, preaching and the list goes on...

SO to be asked to not be anxious about anything seems a little crazy to me.

I am really passionate about the peace of God, I need it so so so much.

Paul gives us the answer in verse 4, ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
 
Because the Lord is near there really isn't anything we need to worry about.

It then comes down to us believing this and then our actions responding to this faith.

For example, you don't have enough money to pay your University fees and you could be kicked out of Uni...If you believe the Lord is near then respond in Faith by letting Him know your request with a heart of thanksgiving. 

Then whatever happens you know God is in control.  Peace comes as we know God is in control and He is near.

Don't be unwise by not showing up for work or perhaps getting a second job, you have to do what you have to do.  God is not a genie in a bottle.

Paul finishes this verse with he 'will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

The answer is, in Christ Jesus...

In Christ we find that peace, where he can put to rest the battle that occurs between our mind and our heart over the things of this world that worry us.

So today what are you worrying about???

Present it to God.

Go to faith because the Lord is near.

The answer is in Christ Jesus.

It all hangs on this

+jk

 Ecc 7:¹³ Take a good look at God's work.
   Who could simplify and reduce Creation's curves and angles
   To a plain straight line?

 ¹⁴ On a good day, enjoy yourself;
   On a bad day, examine your conscience.
   God arranges for both kinds of days
   So that we won't take anything for granted.

God to us is complicated.

But to Him everything is simple.

All of the commandments are fulfilled by one.

Love God and Love people as you love yourself.

Regardless of whether you have a good day or a bad day God is involved in all of it.

The bad could seem complicated but it really isn't, just examine yourself. It will become clear.

Really, I know exactly where I am at if I acknowledge it.

He is using it all to point us to Himself, our true destination, Christ.

The good could seem like a good time to take our eyes off God.

Yet let us enjoy life and simplify life by trusting God in the good and the bad.

Simplify life by not taking it for granted.

God arranged it, now lets make the most of what He has arranged.


+jk