THE SILVER LINING IN THE DARK CLOUD

30th DECEMBER 2020

“God is our refuge and strength; A very present help in trouble” – Psalm 46:1

As you prepare to enter into the new year of 2021, be focused on success only. Do not quiver or fret when things go wrong. As I have said previously, the year 2020 is the first year of this decade which is a period between 2020 through 2030. The spiritual gateway to 2021 is opened already!  Yes, the light of Christ which we received at Christmas is still shining bright in our souls, showing us the right way to go so we don’t miss the right path into 2021!  Beloved, get yourselves attuned with the light of Christ through fervent prayers, especially in the next couple of days as we prepare to move through the gateway of 2021!  Go through and don’t lag behind! As we enter into the New Year, endeavour to reap all the lessons and gains from every situation that comes your way. Nevertheless, always have at the back of your mind this saying; “Every cloud has a silver lining”; meaning that in the midst of every problem, there exists side by side, a trace of goodness. This trace of goodness is a divine gem left behind by God, not only to heal the wounds of betrayal and disappointment but also, like a compass, to show us the narrow path to perfect healing and restoration. As human beings, it is common to have problems or to experience one form of suffering or the other at some points in life. It does not matter whether you are a Moslem, Buddhist, Jew, Christian, rich, poor, black or white. For instance, it is common for natural disasters, cheating, stealing, betrayal, accidents, terminal ailment, death, etc. to occur. These things affect everyone no matter who they are. But we pray that His Grace will see us through every situation and grant us victory in all aspects. The Scripture says in, 1 Corinthians 10:13 thus, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” This means that disappointment or suffering is a part of human experience, but God usually would bring forth His healing and restoration to us in a mysterious way.  As believers, always believe that God has called you for His purpose. Therefore, believe also that whatever happens to you in life, God has a purpose for it, and He knows about it, even before it happens! Interestingly, God is telling us today that He is ever-present with us in the days of trouble. God is the silver lining which brings forth restoration and healing to us. Therefore, in the midst of pain, disappointment, betrayal or confusion, God does work out something good for us, provided we love God, and we are ready to glorify Him, even in our pain and disappointment. Therefore, hold onto God however difficult or painful a situation might be. The healing power of God is a mystery which is only released upon us when we do not let go of God in times of sorrow and perplexity (Romans 8:28) There are many reasons why we suffer; sometimes, God allows us to suffer in order to help us grow spiritually or to overcome the lapses in our environment. In such cases, therefore, we must allow God to help us nurture our Spirit and to make us TRUE sons of God. This was how Jesus grew up. The scripture says concerning Jesus in Hebrews 5:8, that Jesus, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered”. I appreciate the fact that Some life problems can be quite stormy and can as well shake the roots of our faith or trust in people around us. When we face the storms of life, disappointment or betrayal, we need to be able to find the silver lining, i.e. something to hold to, something to hope for so we don’t get blown away in the storms by emotional trauma or sorrow. Beloved, a silver lining is an escape route, a point of succour or a breakthrough point in the midst of chaos. How then do we recognize the silver lining and take advantage of the same for our benefits?

1.     Submit to God and realize for once He is the central part of your life; therefore, He would not let you suffer without help.

2.     Recognize the fact that the storms of life are the crucible for our faith. 1 Peter 1:7 says that “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ”. Therefore, trials are the crucible in which our faith is helped, tested, and purified.

3.     When we have been so tested and our faith is seen to be genuine, we receive a reward from God. Our faith becomes a “Living Faith” which allows us to walk by faith and not by sight. (1 Peter 1:8)

4.     The outcome of our faith makes the storms of life worth enduring. We are given a very strong spirit of endurance which makes us bear the pain of persecution, tribulation, and betrayal.

When you have these four points at the back of your mind, your mind and vision become clearer and you can easily see and recognize HELP which has been there all this while. When the helper appears, it is unmistakable and does not fail to give every desirable healing and restoration!

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, I trust in you today for help in this time of need and betrayal; change the evil circumstances of this moment and endow me with a strong spirit to enable me to serve your glory with patient and endurance. Father, I know you have called me according to your purpose; therefore, I declare that all things work together for my good. AMEN.

FURTHER READING:  1 Peter 1:6-9