Jesus promised the believers of His day they shall have tribulation. This continues to be universal truth for grace believers even today also as we encounter the situations and circumstances of life.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation [Grk., thlipsis, pressure]: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:3)

In this age of “the grace of God,” we as “His body” are not to expect being delivered FROM our difficulties, but rather we can expect to endure and grow in faith by learning to in trust Him in the way that Paul writes of and as demonstrated for us by his own life.

Most saints don’t understand how the doctrines work with and through our sufferings for our eternal benefit.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

These sufferings are specifically designed ‘for us’ in this dispensation to learn to have His peace during our trials.

“Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)

As we will see, God has a ‘high calling’ and high purpose in what we are called to endure.

Difficult situations are humbling and they intensify the doctrine we stand upon in order to become built up in our inner ‘man of the soul.’ Recall at our salvation nothing changed in our soul, it needed to become renewed. At that time we did receive the everlasting life and empowering of “spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” who is at work in teaching us how to live in faith.

“For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both To Will And To Do Of His Good Pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings: ¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Philippians 2:13-15 (KJV)

As we learn to trust the Lord, His life supply, and His words of Scripture that Jesus said are “spirit and life” within us, to bring glory to the Father.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth [enlivens]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (KJV)

Jesus spoke similarly through Paul writing; “…when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, The Word Of God, which Effectually Worketh Also In You That Believe.” (I Thess. 2:13)

God powerfully works His will to manifest Christ in us as we yield:

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to The Power That WORKETH IN US.” (Eph. 3:20)

As we learn to trust Him in “All Things,” through difficulties, we can appreciate how tribulation works for us. Note it teaches how we can even glory in tribulation.

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ 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.” (Romans 5:3-5 (KJV)

Note that we are in training while still on earth, learning to trust Him and His word to and for us in this age of the “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2). We are being trained to “reign with Him” in “in the heavenly places.”

“If we suffer [endure by the power of His life], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]:” (2Timothy 2:12 (KJV)

We will ultimately “reign with him”;

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory.” (Colossians 3:4 (KJV)

• By Arthur J Licursi