Thank Him for the Bad Times
1 Thessalonians 5:15-23
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (5:18)
We always find that is easy to thank God when everything is going good. It is not so easy to thank God when everything appears to be going wrong. During these adverse times it is hard to be thankful. Yet the Bible clearly teaches that we are to be thankful for even the bad times we may go through. There are some good reasons why we should be thanking Him for the bad times.
I. God may be using adversity to get our attention
A. In Acts 9 we read of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the apostle Paul, who was proud and egotistical, seeking to rid the world of Christians. God had to get Saul’s attention. To do so God struck Saul blind with a bright light. Lying on the Damascus Road, Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord? and “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do”. (Acts 9:5-6)
B. Is God the number one priority in your life? Is He truly First? If not He will bring you down to make you look up.
C. Daniel 4:31-34 “The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation.”
D. We can safely assume that every time we are going through a major trial, God is trying to get our attention in some fashion.
E. Suffering is a tool God uses frequently to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. When we go through trials we are forced to turn from trusting in our own resources to looking to God for deliverance. Adversity prompts us to turn to God and cry out to Him when we don’t see light at the end of the tunnel.
F. Psalm 121:1-2 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
II. God may be using adversity to draw us nearer to Him
A. Have you ever heard of a berkutchi? A berkutchi is an Asian man who trains eagles for hunting. The capture, taming, training, and keeping of eagles is highly ritualized. Most eagles, which have a life span of about 40 years, are caught when very young—either snatched from a nest or trapped in a baited net. Once captured, the eagle is hooded and placed in a cage with a perch that sways constantly so it cannot rest or sleep. For two or three days it is also deprived of food. During this time the berkutchi talks, sings, and chants to the eagle for hours on end. Finally, he begins to feed and stroke it. Slowly the weakened creature comes to rely on its master. When the berkutchi decides that their relationship has become strong enough, the training begins. Not all eagles can be trained, but those who take to life with a master display intense loyalty. While the training and breaking of the eagle may seem harsh, it is a picture of how over time God breaks our independent spirit to draw us close to Him. - Keith R. Krell, Stephen Kinzer, “A Hunter Whose Weapon Is Also His Friend,” New York Times (11/4/99).
B. God wants us to walk with Him in sweet communion. But often we neglect that relationship especially when things go good and we feel that we are in full control. Therefore, He may send the storms of life to rattle our world that we might run for shelter in the cleft of the Rock of Ages.
C. Someone has said, “In the day of prosperity we have many refuges to resort to. In the day of adversity we have only One.”
D. 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.”
E. Our God is an ever present help and a shelter in adversity who waits for us to draw close to Him and to cast our cares upon him.
F. I know the Lord will make a way for me. This year, 2011, has been my worst year, but even though it was my worst I got to grow more close to the Lord. My life is a mess right now. I have an incurable disease, my financial situation is terrible and I might be let off at work. But through all this I'm rejoicing as I know when I get through this my character will be changed and I will learn to endure as I know my Lord is with me, through this I will not give up and will not let the devil win... – Kuda
G. Psalm 130:1 “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.”
H. Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple
III. God may be using adversity to strengthen us
A. God does not allow us to suffer in order to destroy us, but to chasten and strengthen us.
B. 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
C. If a butterfly is helped from its cocoon rather than emerging by itself, its wings won’t develop the necessary strength to fly. God uses adversity to strengthen us - copied
D. 1 Peter 5:10 (HCSB) “Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.”
E. Our strength often increases in proportion to the obstacles which are imposed upon it. -- Rene Rapin
F. Colossians 1:11 (NCV) “God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.”
G. “When adversity is ready to strike, God is ready to strengthen.” - Gary Heard, Melbourne, Australia
IV. God may be using adversity to refine us.
A. Proverbs 25:4 “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. “
B. Isaiah 1:25 “I will turn My hand against you and will burn away your dross completely; I will remove all your impurities.”
C. God also wants us to realize there are consequences to our decision and actions. God uses adversity to show us what is in our hearts, to purify us
D. Psalm 119:71-72 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
E. Romans 5:3-5 “...we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
F. A diamond is really just a lump of coal. The difference, though, between a diamond and coal is that the diamond has gone through long, hard, hot, and intense pressure. A diamond is formed by way of pressure, heat, and time. Some scientists say that it takes 1,000 or more years for a diamond to form. During that time, it is going through intense heat, pressure, and difficulty.
G. Job 23:10 “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
H. A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man made perfect without trials. — Chinese Proverb
V. God may be using adversity to make us a blessing to others
A. “God’s ultimate goal is not my comfort. His ultimate purpose is to save lost souls.” – Copied
B. Philippians 1:12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.”
C. “We never know what avenue God may use to make us a blessing to others. Whether we are ordained of God to be a blessing to others through afflictions, or ordained of God to be a blessing to others through good health and prosperity, we should heed the admonition of the Apostle Paul: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” - Dr. Don Sisk, Director Emeritus, BIMI
D. Do you remember the adversity that Joseph went through in the book of Genesis as his brothers sold him into slavery? Years later the reason behind the adversity became apparent.
E. Genesis 50:20 “0 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.”
F. Someone has said “If you use your pain to bless others, you'll find true healing in the experience.”
