Tough Times Ahead.

    There is no doubt about it, there are more tough times coming!  When we hear of the new regulations that the authorities are talking about bringing in, we realise that our opportunities to speak in public about the truths that the Bible teaches are going to be greatly curtailed. Pastors and ministers are going to be criminalized if they talk about controversial topics such as transgenderism and homosexuality. Christian teachers too, are going to have to be careful what they say…in fact they are going to be required to teach things to their classes that they know are contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

    We might wonder how we are going to be able to cope in a climate such as this, but we are not alone in this fight against evil. Our Lord said before He left His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but don’t be afraid, I have overcome the world”, and “ I will pray the Father and He will give you another Comforter (Helper), that He may abide with you for ever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you….I will not leave you orphans, but will come to you…”   (John 14:16-18),

    It reminds me of a story told to me years ago by an older friend. She said that she had had to go into hospital to have an operation for cancer, and was very apprehensive about the whole thing. But as she remembered these verses and others that she knew, she felt the peace of God surround her mind and soul, and was able to relax knowing that He was in control. After a few days when it was all over, somehow this sense of peace left her, and this bothered her very much.

 “Where are you Lord?” she asked, “Why have You left me?”

Almost immediately the answer came into her mind…. “I haven’t left you, I will always be with you. But you don’t need Me the same now it’s all over, and  you have walk by faith again”.

    So it will be for us…when we need God’s strength in difficult situations, it will be there for us if we ask Him. Until that time comes, we need to live in faith, and learn to depend on Him more and more as we see the clouds darken around us.