😷Joy in Affliction🌤️

No matter who you are or what your life has been like so far, the rest of your life's journey can be different. With God's help you can begin again.

~ Billy Graham ~

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

Not always but sometimes “affliction” brings people to Christ. God forbid that I would wish any type of affliction on anyone but oftentimes it changes mindsets. In Mark chapter 5 we see that in the life of a man named Jairus. His daughter is at the point of death and he comes to Jesus asking Him to come to his home. This affliction in Jairus life has caused him to do something he would not have done months earlier.  Why? Jairus was a ruler of the  synagogue. That would be like an atheist going to a Baptist Pastor asking for Godly guidance. When afflictions come things change. Jairus came to Jesus and asked for help and Jesus went with him. Mark 5:24 (KJV) And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. All was going well until a woman who had been sick for 12 years stopped them. Time is of the essence couldn’t this lady wait. I mean she has been sick for 12 years. What's a few more hours? That’s the way we think our problems seem to be of greater importance. Then the word came to Jairus

Mark 5:35 (KJV) While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? It now looks as if there is no hope.  But wait. Mark 5:36 (KJV) As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Never give up, believe in the hopeless, believe when others give up, keep trusting in the Lord. That’s what Jairus did not at hopelessness, not at his religion, not in his church or synagogue, not at those laughing at him but in Christ Jesus. Jairus could have given up and buried his daughter and received what little comfort his friends and loved ones could have given him but he didn’t. Too many times we give up too soon and we believe it can’t be done. Oh no, sometimes God uses affliction in our lives to draw us closer to Him. That’s what God used in my life and I’m so glad He did. Sometimes affliction is a good thing “much affliction, with joy”