Some of us still have the notion that true blessing exists only if there are no problems. As a matter of fact, many people come to Christ thinking that salvation exes out any future potential for trouble, only to be disappointed and disillusioned. Some depart from the faith when they perceive that God has chosen not to come through for them in a crisis, in the manner which they'd hoped. And still others live in a topsy-turvy, “one-day chicken, next-day feathers” kind of mindset. Today I say I'm blessed, tomorrow I say I'm not blessed, on and on. So what DOES our Lord really mean when He uses the phrase "abundant life?"
I believe the answer in part lies in the fact that He mentioned His provision and the attack of the enemy in the same passage. It's as if there's a huge "HOWEVER" that links the two. He isn't offering abundant life in place of our suffering...He's offering this gift IN SPITE OF it.
So for the person who says, "If my life isn't going to be without trouble as a believer, what's the use in believing at all?" Well, friend, believer or not, you're not going to escape trouble in some capacity. As believers, though, we can through prayer and the Word indeed ward off many disasters before they ever get a chance to come to fruition in our lives.
Sowing and reaping good is one such way of avoiding some hardships. Making life decisions based on God's wise Word also keeps us from many seasons of regret and heartbreak as well. For the remainder of the troubles we face in life, those things we can't altogether avoid, comes the assurance Jesus gave in John 10:10. "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." You can't afford to live without the One who assures a simultaneous outpouring of abundant, full life even in times when you're being pummeled by the enemy's strategy against you.
How is it that we can simultaneously have joy while all hell is breaking loose? That is the miracle...NOT that we have no trouble to start with! Instead, the true miracle lies in the fact that we can be battling sickness, financial trouble, problems with our kids, aggravation on the job; and at the same time have a calm, navigating peace that we can neither deny nor explain.
As Paul named off a laundry list of potential unpleasantries in life, he countered all these things with the huge weight of the love of God.
Scripture Of The Day: "Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:35-39 (AMP)
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