05/28/26 GOD DESIGNS AND ASSIGNS, WE RESIGN AND ALLIGN
I am not a Doomsdayer, and I am not a negative person. I know there is good and evil, I know there is right and wrong, and I know there is peace and tribulation. My reality transcends the temporal and trusts the eternal. I do not trust the process; I trust the Processor. This is faith at work. I am pragmatic insofar as my hope is in Jesus, although I am living in a world of chaos, contradiction, and conflict.
I am a Bible believer. I don't like the dark side of life or the trouble that comes with a world in freefall, but I am hopeful. I am not hoping in this world or this world's "solutions" to human problems. My hope is in Christ alone. In Christ we have peace, even in this world of chaos and suffering. I hope for the things He promised. In the world, we have tribulation (difficult times), but Christ has overcome the world. The "tribulation" He was speaking about in John 16:33 was not the designated time of judgment described in the book of Revelation. The "tribulation" He spoke of was personal suffering, trouble, affliction, persecution that they would face after His death. It was not Divine judgment.
Christians face and experience "tribulation" in this world, but we look beyond this vale of tears. I will give a brief note and quote a passage. Consider these verses.
(dlg note... Jesus' parable of the stony ground. The seed (the word of God) was received by the shallow ground. This person received the word with joy and endured for a short time because he did not get rooted and grounded in Christ. Therefore, when difficulty [tribulation or persecution] came, it caused him to stumble and fall away).
QUOTE
Matthew 13:21
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
(dlg note... Jesus assures His disciples that He has given them his peace; and though they will have tribulation in the future, they can rejoice because He has overcome the world).
QUOTE
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(dlg note... Paul exhorted the followers of Christ in the faith, even through they would go through much tribulation).
QUOTE
Acts 14:22
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
(dlg note... Circumstances, including tribulations, do not determine our relationship with God. We make our own choice. Sometimes it is very difficult, but even death does not determine our destination).
QUOTE
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(dlg note... Paul mentions our victory over tribulation).
QUOTE
Romans 12:10-12
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
(dlg note... God comforts us in all of our tribulations, making it possible for us to comfort others in difficulty. Paul acknowledges that their victory was based in a right relationship with Christ).
QUOTE
2 Corinthians 1:3-10
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
(dlg note... Paul had told Timothy he would be greatly tempted. Paul was concerned about Timothy's response during heavy tribulation).
QUOTE
1 Thessalonians 3:2-5
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(dlg note... Those who abound in faith and love, will face persecution and tribulation. They show patience and God will count them worthy as they endure tribulation. God will also recompense those who trouble faithful believers).
QUOTE
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
(dlg note... Though John addresses the event of God's judgment, which is called, "The Tribulation," John points out that he had gone through personal suffering (tribulation) because of his faithfulness to Christ).
QUOTE
Revelation 1:9
9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(dlg note... When writing to the church at Smyrna, John commends them for being faithful during their own suffering (tribulation). This is not to be confused with the Divine judgment which is later called "tribulation."
QUOTE
Revelation 2:9-11
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
My comments simply point out that believers go through trying times, but maintain a faithful, victorious and Christlike response to their tribulations.
