"Follow Christ Regardless of the Storm" Part 1

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

 

 

When you follow Christ, you will have storms come up in your life because the enemy will try to stop you. The enemy will do anything and everything to try and stop you from serving God; he hates God and he hates you because you are naming the Name of God. So, don’t think when you give your life to God, you will be exempt from trouble and problems. It’s the opposite; your troubles are just beginning. But, I got good news for you, Jesus encourage you about this in John 16:33, He said:

“These things I have spoken to you, that IN ME you may have peace. In the world YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCAME THE WORLD” (www.biblegateway.com – NKJV – emphasis added by me).

It was implied to me when I accepted Christ that all my problems would end but they got worse and I struggled as a Christian for a long time because I thought “all my problems would end.” I kept asking God, “Why is this happening to me? Why am I suffering?” I thank God for His mercy because He knew I did not understand and basically I was misled just so I could accept Christ. But God want us as ministers to tell the people the truth; we cannot use scare tactics and lies to make someone accept Christ (God draws us to Himself through lovingkindness – Jeremiah 31:3).

 

When someone comes to Christ through scare tactics, it causes that person to backslide; as it did me, over and over again. One day I was so distraught about backsliding that God spoke to me and gave me the scripture in Psalm 37:23-24:

²³ ”The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with HIS hand” (www.biblegateway.com – NKJV – emphasis added by me).

It was verse 24 which really stuck out to me and I wept before God in repentance. It was my heart that God saw; He knew I was trying and that is what kept me seeking after Him. Although I made many mistakes, and kept making them, God knew my heart. As God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7:

“…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (www.biblegateway.com – NKJV).

I thank God for teaching me that we are going to have trials, tribulations, and temptations; life is going to happen. But I know from many personal experiences, what/who comes or goes in our lives, God is there with us and He is in total control of our lives and Jesus will deliver us out of every storm that arises in our lives if we only trust Him! Don’t try to do things your way but trust God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done in your life; They will never fail you!!!

God bless you,
Dr. Hooks