Adverse Conditions

Recently I have been challenged that, if I want to experience a deeper move of God in my life, I must be willing to leave my comfort zone. The early Church did not experience God’s move while they were in their comfort zone. There were adverse conditions such as storms, floods, fire, being in a pit, stoning from mobs, and being in the valley of the shadow of death. We wouldn’t wish to have such extreme experiences, but, in the Bible, people who were walking with the Lord encountered them.

To experience a more vibrant relationship with God we must be willing to embrace this aspect of Christian life. James encourages us to count it as joy because it’s an opportunity for growth. As a new believer, this what God said about Paul, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).

Adverse conditions are not easy. Even Jesus found Himself praying that, if possible, He wouldn’t have to take the cup of suffering that was coming to Him. But it wasn’t for His growth. It was for our salvation. Yet, at that very moment, He focused on God, and God strengthened Him.

And this is what God tells us when we focus on Him in such adverse situations, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour (Isaiah 43:1-3, NLT).

This verse does not imply that God will stop adverse conditions, but He promises to be there with us. We are not alone. What does this mean? It means His perfect love is there with you, casting out fear. Perfect peace is there with you, casting out anxieties.

Amidst the violent crowd, the flying stones, and his bruised and bleeding body, Stephen saw Jesus. I can imagine the glimpse of hope in his eyes, the smile on his face, and the peace of knowing he was not alone, because his Saviour was there with him, suffering alongside him.

It’s better to walk with the Lord than to be in comfort where the Lord is absent. Moses had to leave behind his position as Prince of Egypt to see the Lord in the burning bush in the desert.

Peter encountered God in a more personal, intimate way when he left the safety of the boat and went into the stormy sea where Jesus was.

Sometimes we might be tempted to choose our comfort rather than seeing Jesus and being with Him. But most of the time He calls us out of our comfort zone to have a deeper revelation of Him. He said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31, ESV).

Jesus didn’t comfort Simon by telling him that He’d forbidden the enemy to touch him, but instead, He prayed for Peter’s faith, and that when he’d come through the test, he would strengthen the Church. Through this sifting Simon Peter learnt that he couldn’t rely on his own strength to follow Jesus. He needed to trust Jesus as his strength. Then he was able to be stronger. The most comforting thing for me is that Jesus is interceding for us.