Like my father once told me: “When I was young, I felt I could conquer the world.” That’s how many of us have felt, but as we grow older, we come to the hard realization that life isn’t always easy.
We have to keep in mind that we’re not the only ones that experience hardships, everyone goes through tough times. Even the people in the Bible, who we see as examples, faced constant trials when they were alive. They were also not guaranteed a life without trouble.
An example is the life of Moses.
It’s easy to think Moses jumped from glory to glory as we recall the number of miracles he was part of. Just to name a few, he turned water to blood and parted the sea so that the Israelites could pass in dry land.
Did Moses have it easier with all those miracles? Was he guaranteed a victory each time? Not at all!
Just like God did not guarantee a life without troubles to Moses, the same applies to our lives. While many teachings emphasize the victories many Bible people faced, let’s take a look at the trials and rejections God warned Moses about for pursuing God’s calling.
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”
Exodus 4:21
Rejection is part of our journey
Before Moses began pleading with Pharaoh, God told him he would face opposition.
It’s one thing to be prepared and well-equipped, but it’s another thing to know we’ll be facing trials beforehand. Moses was foretold of Pharaoh’s rejection.
Let’s imagine how Moses must have felt. Moses already struggled with his own insecurities of rejection for not being able to speak well, but God told him the road ahead was filled with more rejection.
Does this make it any easier? If Moses had known beforehand how many times he was going to ask Pharaoh to “let my people go” do you think he would have accepted God’s calling in the first place?
While it was hard for Moses to face resistance from Pharaoh, rejection was part of God’s plan. After every denied request, God had the opportunity to show his power and wonders to the Egyptians and Israelites.
God’s plan for our life doesn’t mean easy
Exodus 5:22-23 says: “Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
Just like we sometimes think, Moses probably thought that surely everything was going to go smoothly as he approached Pharaoh – but it didn’t.
This was causing more trouble than it should.
Was it really God who sent Moses? Yes, it was! Just because God orchestrated a plan, doesn’t mean that it was going to be easy. We have to remember that when we’re in the middle of a hardship.
God did not promise a life without troubles
In other parts of the Bible, God reminds us that this life won’t be easy.
“I have told you these things, so that in me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
The Bible tells us that trials and sufferings are part of the journey, so we shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that if we experience resistance then it isn’t from God, or that the gospel owes us a prosperous trouble-free life, as some false teachings guarantee.
1 Peter 1:6 says, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
God promises a victorious ending
The only guarantee we have is that our ending will be beautiful, but it takes faith to believe that!
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18
We can live by faith, knowing that one day we will no longer face opposition, one day we will be able to rest forever in God’s glory.
James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Prayer to persevere under trial
Dear God,
It feels like one challenge rises after another. While your word says that trials are part of life, I surrender this heavy weight of attempting to carry it all on my own, and ask you to give me the grace to keep going. Even when I face rejections and delays, help me to trust that you’re the one taking me through it. Help me to not fall into the trap of complaining, instead, help me to look ahead and keep my eyes on you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.