HANDLING HARDSHIP
It's All About Perseverance

Alonzo Fender

(Alonzo has been a disciple for 30 years and is an elder in the Triangle church)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
If we are not being thankful, then we are quenching the Spirit. One thing that causes us to lose our gratitude is hardship. In hardship we often lose our gratitude.

One morning a few years ago, Alonzo woke up, as usual, but one thing was not the way it usually was. He could not get out of bed, and lay there immobile and confused. This was followed by the diagnosis of a severe respiratory problem that has had to live with ever since. Initially, Alonzo shared, his heart was severely hardened and he was upset with many people including God. While he eventually got over those feelings, Alonzo's condition meant that he couldn't be as active as he would prefer and play the physical games with his son that most father's play with their boys. This resulted in resentment on his son's part, that came to light when the young man was close to getting baptized. Being American does not mean being immune to trial and hardship.

When we are bitter, we feel and think, "People are not serving me enough, brothers are not coming over to visit like they should," etc.

John 21:18
We are to be grateful and thankful in all circumstances, even challenging ones.

Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Sincere means without pretence. As much as we need to be sincere in our relationship with God and our love of him, we also must be sincere in our relationships with each other, e.g. if you've had an argument with your spouse or are in any other way in need of help, then don't say, "I'm fine" when asked, at church, "how are you?" Open up, be sincere, and get the help that you require.

2 Corinthians 1:3,4
We cannot afford to suffer and not learn from it or allow it to make us stronger. If when we suffer we feel like victims, then we will only pull ourselves down.

One lesson to learn from suffering, as disciples, is to band together and help each other out, eg. If a brother is a plumber, take your plumbing needs to him and thus support him, if a sister does hair, then go to her and take your daughters there too.

Another lesson that we can learn is to give from what we receive in order to comfort each other. God allows us to suffer so that we can then comfort each other.

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