The Trials of the Messenger

UV 4218/10000 The Trials of the Messenger But the Lord stood by me and strengthened and empowered me, so that through me the (gospel) message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the mouth of the lion. 2 Timothy 4 v 17 When all had abandoned Paul in his trials, the Lord stood by him and strengthened him. He empowered him to be a bold, fearless and effective witness of His grace and our faith. Often when all the world including our own friends and family abandons us as it happened with Job in his struggles and ordeals, it is only the Lord who stands by us like the Rock that He truly is. He helps us weather or endure the storms of life. He rescues us from the mouth of the roaring lion- the enemy of our souls. The Lord strengthens us in our weakest moments with power from above and within. He sends us angelic help to strengthen us as He did with Daniel and Jesus. He sends His word to rescue us from our “destructions” or forces and foes, both internal and external, that can destroy us. He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen, empower us. The purpose the Lord empowers us is so that we become a channel of His grace, a river of His mercy, an instrument of His peace. We are the envelope that delivers the good news, the message of hope of eternal and abundant life to the world that is decaying and dying. The Holy Spirit comes on us as a gentle dove as a stamp of His approval when we are under attack all round. We obtain the peace of Jesus that the world cannot give or take away. The Lord ensures that His faithful ones are victorious till the end so that they receive the victor’s crown of righteousness and the endorsement of the Father, “ Welcome, you good and faithful servant, you diligent and triumphant fighter, you disciplined and consistent champion of good over evil, you brave and fearless soldier.” In our weakness, is His strength found. In troubles and trials, the faithful recognize the helping and enabling hand of the Lord. We are never alone and helpless if the Lord is with us, regardless of who is against us. In fact, the Lord is closest to us in our most desperate moments in life. We can find solace, wisdom, counsel, strength and ultimate victory in Him. In the uni-verse, it is clearly stated that we go through such trials so that we will be able to fully proclaim the message to the world, to those who do not yet believe in the Word that became flesh. We go through it so that all might hear our testimony of what the Lord has done for us. When the faithful hear it, their faith will be further augmented, when the unbeliever hears it, their faith will be born. Either way, we fulfill our purpose in being a messenger for the Lord.