2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“8.We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

It is so good to know we serve a God who is always on our side. We are designed to go through trials and troubles. But the amazing part of our design is that the trials and troubles do not invade us.

What does that mean? Consider the 3 Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – When they were cast into the fiery furnace. They were so insulated by God that not only were they not burned, the smell of smoke did not get on their clothes. See Daniel chapter 3.

We have this same insulation. Yes, we will go through trouble, but we have no distress about them. Yes, we are perplexed, but we are not in despair over the things that perplex us. We are even persecuted and my feel like we are knocked down by life, but just as God was in the fire with the 3 Hebrew boys, he is also with us. He has not left or forgotten about us. He makes sure that we are not destroyed by these things.

God promised not to put more on us than we are able to bear. There is a certain comfort in knowing that no matter what I face, God is in the fire with me to keep me insulated. No matter what I face I am designed to be victorious.

It is certain that you will go through trouble. Think about Job and how God recommended him to be tested. But understand that God is in control. There are parameters that the enemy cannot breach. If you are in it, you can bear it, you can (and will) make it. You are designed that way.

Move forward and conquer. Keep going. Don’t give up. You are victorious. Trust the God that has called you, will also keep you and bring your victoriously to the finish line.