When troubles abound

All human beings in this world go through a cycle of seasons based on time and their destiny. While some seasons of one’s life are pleasant, sanguine and maybe even over-the-top and ecstastic, there are also what some spiritualists term as “night seasons”.

As the very word denotes, “night seasons” are phases in one’s life where one undergoes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual turmoil and mayhem. No human being can be said to be exempt from experiencing these ugly overtures of fate at some point of time in their lives. It would do one good to discern that these “night seasons” are not permanent fixtures and like the night, they will be followed by the break of dawn for a new day full of light.

Everyone is aware of the fact that God is always a loving entity and will never give any human being permanent everlasting trials and tribulations which is beyond the human being’s endurance levels. So, one should stoically face the intransigences with courage and grit and emerge wiser from the experience. In the Bible, one can read the chapter on Job where Satan tells God that Job was being faithful to God merely because God had blessed him with happiness, health and prosperity. Satan challenged God to strip Job of everything and then observe if Job continues to please God. This was, unfortunately, done.

However, it is heartening to note that Job took the loss sportingly and definitely in his stride without the “test” unfazing him. At the end of the Book of Job, one sees that God, as a reward, restores to Job twice as much as he had lost. One can, therefore, concur that if Job could survive this life-threatening ordeal, one should likewise face one’s own trials and tests courageously. One should gird up one’s loins, steel one’s self and be tenacious to face challenges against all odds. On no account should one succumb nor buckle, but instead one must muster courage to face any vicissitudes boldly. One should keep in mind that God is the only entity who can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, and a victim into a victory.

At this juncture, one may ask a rather pertinent query, that is, if God is such a loving, omniscient and omnipotent entity, why would He give human beings “night seasons” in the first place? The reason could be that if one does not go through trials and tribulations and if one does not develop endurance, one cannot be assured of a strong character. For some people, however, the “night season” can be extremely long and debilitating. They should remember that however intensely bleak it seems, it, too, will pass, for remember the golden proverb, “If God can take you to it, He can take you through it, too.” Amen to that.