• Scripture: Philippians 4: 13
• Broadcast Date: 11/09/2015

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

Philippians 4: 13

For our meditation this week I want to talk about what happens when “the going gets tough”. You don’t have to live long until, one way or another, the going is going to “get tough”. Read the newspapers and you will see multitudes of people having “tough, rough” going. I like the Bible stories, because, God knows, it carries the events in life when things looked pretty dark.
I like the Bible Stories because, when people were in distress they could always turn to God and find help: sometimes God delivered them from the problem, sometimes He walked with them in the problem, (remember the three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace?) and sometimes God just took them out of the problem and took them home as seen in the life those martyred.
One thing for sure, God never forsook them. He promised never to leave us or forsake us, and He always keeps His word. (Hebrews 13:5)
One story of deliverance I really like is when Peter was in prison, he was in trouble, big trouble. Not because of any wrong doing on Peter’s part, but because they had a wicked king with an ugly name of Herod. This guy was ugly inside and out and he had a heart that was as black as sin. Because it pleased his wicked people, he killed James the brother of John. And, the Bible says, “because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.”
(Acts 12:3). Herod, the louse, took pleasure in killing Christians because his evil followers took pleasure in the same thing. So, Peter is in prison, and when the cock crows in the morning, he is not going to deny Jesus, Peter is going to have his head taken off. So I would agree that for Peter, the going was getting pretty tough. But nothing violent is going to happen to Peter because God still has work for him to do. Here is how it all played out. We read that “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
(Acts 12:5). And, like I said, God still had work for Peter and when the church prayed, God acted.
As a child, I loved this part: Peter is chained between two soldiers, knowing that in the morning, he will be put to death. Talk about faith, Peter had it. Now let me read about it: “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did.
And he saith unto him, “Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.”
(Acts 12:7). Wow. Peter had a tough time and was delivered!
Praise God. But God doesn’t always deliver. Sometimes we have to pay the ultimate, like those being beheaded today for following Jesus. So, how do we live? St. Paul tells us, good times or tough times,
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21). Either way, Jesus is with us, what more can we ask! Fanny Crosby had it just right. Listen to her. All the way my Savior leads me. What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy Who tho’ life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know whate’er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well.
Friend, you can’t go wrong trusting Jesus!