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God knows how much we can bear
Pastor's corner
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There is no doubt that we are living in some difficult times. Many are struggling to make ends meet. Many are wondering if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The difficulties of life can cause you to become frustrated and discouraged. Rather than holding on to our faith, we tend to operate in fear.
Fear is the opposite of faith. God wants us to operate in faith. For the just must walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. The only one we really can trust is God. He has our best interest in mind and will not put more on us than we can bear.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The key to surviving in this world is to put your trust and confidence in God. If you allow Him to direct your path, things will be better in your life and you will be able to say, like the Apostle Paul, that I’ve learned to be content in whatever state that I am in.
In essence, you will see things in a different light. Your goal will not be so much to obtain wealth, but to please God. You will begin to discover that God will not put any more on you than you can bear.
Now, I have discovered over the years that when I encounter difficulties in my life, God is with me. He promised to be with me until the end of the world. In fact, many times he is the one who is carrying me through the rough times in my life. I have to understand that if God is with me as he promised, that everything I go through has a purpose. I might not understand the purpose at the time, but I can rest assured that it is working for my good.  
You see, Romans 8:28 declares that all things work together for the good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I can take joy in my tribulation because I trust that He knows how much we can bear.
We also have to remember that God is our divine architect. The psalmist said it is He who has made us and not we ourselves. The fact that he designed us should give us confidence that he knows our limitations. He knows how much we can handle.  
So we have to trust Him to know what is best for us. I’m convinced that when we learn to trust Him, our trials can become our testimony of the goodness of Jesus Christ. God will get the glory from our lives.
I want to encourage you today to look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Put your trust in Him. I know that times are hard, but trust in the Lord. Focus on his goodness and his mercy. Understand that He is able to do exceedingly abundant work above all we ask or think. Let go and let the Lord handle the difficulties in your life. Remember His promises to you and believe that He knows how much we can bear.

Jackson is the pastor of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance.

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