Hard Times: Promises To Cling Onto

Hard Times: Promises To Cling Onto

Sister Miki Terayama - 24 October 2021

Weekend Devotion: Hard Times- Promises To Cling Onto

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The bible has already told us that as long as we are in this world, challenges and woes will inevitably come to us. Our life is a journey like a race, like a battleground for our spirit. In the process, we may feel despair and troubled inside out. But these are all nothing new to the bible and on that note, the Lord has given us some promises to cling on to. As we face the external darts and disappointments of daily life, whether it is fighting besetting sins, relationship issues, effects of the COVID, financial instability or problems at work, let us hold onto and be reminded consistently of these 3 promises from the Lord.

Where the Lord leads us to, He will guide us through.

Firstly, from the Word of God, we can see that the Lord has promised us that if He leads us into certain trying times, He will definitely lead us through it. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” So when challenges come, it is not just about proclaiming it or praying our woes away. The Lord has His sovereignty and timetable. However, amid the circumstance, the Lord will surely have paved a way. Just like Paul who has many times prayed to the Lord about the thorn in his flesh. Yet the Lord told him “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weaknesses.” Is it in a way that the Lord wants to bring pain to His children? No. It is not about us hoping our problems away and it will be relieved. It is to reveal to us God’s faithfulness and power in our weak moments, our depressed moments and to find comfort and anchor in no other way than Him alone. Now brothers and sisters, challenges will come up one after another. If our source of joy, relief or victory is based on anything other than God, surely we would not be able to stand firm against the different tides and seasons, because they vary and change. Last time, I always anchored my level of joy with my friends and how much they respond to me, ask me out, trust me with their secrets and make memories. But I was also always wavering between fear of offending them, not being good enough to keep up to their expectations or being the left out one. In the process, I was mostly just trying to keep things going smoothly than to actually enjoy the friendship. So in the road we are going, are we looking for God’s guidance or something else? This is something every believer of God will go through and will have to keep reflecting upon. It is fundamental to us building our dependency on God. To scuttle through our life’s path holding onto Him, not just pray for a smooth sailing life strolling alongside Him.

As we internalise this point, let us also start to seek and observe how the Lord is actually bringing us through our problems. This means to keep our hearts from merely lamenting and remaining in an “emo” state, thus brushing off all the signs of grace and mercy. That would be a waste. When the Lord refines His people, we can feel down at times, but how we pick ourselves up from there in faith is the key. Wherever we fall, that is where God wants to meet us intimately and speak to our hearts with His empowering truth. If we are falling in areas of servings, maybe there are lessons of humility. If we are falling in areas of relationships, maybe there are lessons of identity. Or in areas of fear, there could be lessons of trust. It could be many ways. Let us not just find comfort and happiness existing in typical or self-desired ways. Challenge ourselves to dive deeper and see how God guides us where He leads us.


Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

The second promise to cling onto is that if the Lord allows a certain trial, it will surely follow with a reward. Even in a race, there will be a finishing line, and when it is over, it comes with a trophy. When you are in a battle, there will surely be a ending result of victory. So the bible also tells us in Psalm 126:5-6, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” But the part that is probably a bummer for us would be the “weeping” part. But the truth is weeping ties in greatly with the depth of our labour. Without the labour, collecting the reap would not have as much significance. This is like the labouring works of parenting, painstakingly reminding, disciplining, loving and giving thanks. You see, without “weeping”, we will not be able to understand the heartbeat of the Lord. How much love and sacrifices the Lord has for His people, for the church. This really brings our knowledge of God’s character and perspective out of just some spiritual concept we read on the bible. That is where we are more and more one-hearted with Christ and led more by the Holy Spirit. From there, the way we think, we feel, we speak and respond will all have a different kind of strength. So let us see the value of our current “weepings” and beyond that, affirm that the Lord comforts and is carrying us through to fulfil His great works through us. We are great testimonies of His goodness.


God prepares co-runners for you.

Finally, the 3rd promise to cling onto during hard times is, to remember that God prepares brethren and a blessed community for us. Surely, the Lord prepares co-workers to run the race with you. And what does God want to do through this? So that His people will learn how to be  one-hearted in going through a trial together. It is not about just finding someone to rant to, an outlet to complain or put another person down, play the blame game. It could be a married couple, siblings, family members, brethren in the same ministry and such. We are not to amplify the burdens on each other but to come together in faith to look at the situation. Like how Paul wrote to the Philippi Church when they were being persecuted while he himself was imprisoned, he advised in   So here it reminds us again, when in troubles instead of wallowing alone or pulling our hair out to resolve our own issues, gather with your blessed community in the truth of the gospel. Every challenge is an opportunity to internalise the word of God, make our faith real and become future testimonies of the value in mutual edification.  This is a beautiful relationship that the Lord has gifted to us. Without going through hard times together, our relationships can become very superficial, trust cannot be build up and love cannot grow deeper.

So brother and sisters, if you are in a tough situation or have people around you in a rut, let us go through this refresher course of God’s promises. God will lead you through, you will reap even as you are weeping now and find your blessed co-runners. The Lord always provides a way. God bless.

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Miki Terayama
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Miki is a full-time ministry staff at The Blessed Run Ministries. She is a sister who shares a natural, God-given affinity with children and youths. She is married to Randy (NET Group Youth Leader) and has two little ones of her own, Liora and Jude. She is involved in the children, youth and social media ministries.

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