Life’s Hardest Test and God’s Provision

13 Jan Life’s Hardest Test and God’s Provision

Posted at 10:08h in English Service by

Preacher Huijun - 6 August 2015

Jesus Misplaced?

All English Service

When you need Jesus, can you find Him? Often, despite learning more bible knowledge, we find ourselves a spiritual handicap when we're being put on the spot - when trials come, when inconveniences arise and things become not smooth-sailing, we lose the peace and joy we had a moment ago, as if Jesus has left us. The truths we heard seem to become irrelevant to the reality we're living in, and Jesus is no where to be found. However, Jesus is not found in any other place but in your heart, when your heart solely want to seek Him for who He is, not what you want Him to be and do in your circumstances. A lot of times, we cannot find Jesus because we fit Jesus into our humanistic ideals, only to find ourselves disappointed and frustrated toward God. Jesus is not our ideal but the ideal, perfect God, originally and principally the way He is. However, a lot of times, we cannot seem to reconcile His perfection in our imperfections, His spirituality into our earthly human roles, causing us great distress because we can only feel ourselves to be so distant from Him. God said, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." The spiritual distance we feel from God is to drive us into prayers. As we seek Him, willing to be taught by Him and hear His voice, Holy Spirit will work through the truths we know and drive us into deeper reliance on Him. God can soften our wilfulness in prayers, He can also restore a fighting heart against the forces of darkness within us.. Pray as we live, live as we pray. In the things we cannot completely understand right now because of our limitations, let's restore a humble heart before God first, profess that He is the true and living God, and let Him work through the truth stored in our hearts. Our faithful God will work through the Holy Spirit within us to shape us into His likeness, increasingly and progressively in His grace and love.

Related Topics: Knowing Jesus | More Messages from Preacher Huijun

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Life’s Hardest Test and God’s Provision


Sometimes life gets hard, even as we walk with the Lord. Yet, with greater tests and trials comes greater divine grace. Often, we tend to feel that God is heartless or unhelpful during our trials. However, the faithful God will provide for us, not necessarily by helping us avert the trials, but His help comes within our trials, so that we can eventually pass the test. The most blessed relationship with God is one that is built not on what God can give us or do for us, but on God Himself. To the one who trusts and obeys God, He will give grace upon grace. Yet, though human obedience is important in the walk of faith, God’s grace will always surpass human performance, our works can never outdo God’s grace.

Verses to Read: <Genesis 22:1-18>

1. God is Our Provider.

1) God tests His people <v1>.

  • But God is not unkind.
  • The greater the test, the greater the reward.

2) God provides for us during the test.

  • God’s faithfulness helped Abraham passed the test.
  • God’s provision is not in the form of averting the trial, but divine help is found within the trial, when trial is at its worst.
  • Greatest sorrow >>> greatest relief and joy*

***Ever felt the knife was already at our throats?
***No mood to complain, but only gratitude for not dying

  • Ram >>> Isaac
  • Jesus >>> Us
  • The God who was offended by our sin actually died for us!
  • The Judge died for the offender.
  • We are so sinful
  • God’s grace is so bountiful
  • If God provided the most important Substitute >>> other smaller things too <Ro 8:32>

2. Abraham’s obedience of great faith

  • Difficulty of the test >>> magnitude of Abraham’s faith and obedience
  • Abraham’s relationship with and faith in God was not based on what God could give him, but on God Himself.
  • He never felt entitled about having Isaac >>> knew the son was from God, for God.
  • Passed the test of honoring God above all else.
  • How are we handling the “Isaacs” in our lives?

3. Intricate relationship between grace and works.

  • Grace is not earned by human works.
  • Yet, clear causal association between God’s blessings and human obedience:
    • <v16-17>: “because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you…”
  • Grace does not negate works, but goes beyond works.
  • GOD’S GRACE surpasses HUMAN PERFORMANCE.

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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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