As human beings we often face troubles in various manners. They are part of life. We are always looking for help so that we could free ourselves from them. As much as we strive in this world trouble is always able to find us. Troubles are nothing but hardships that intend to push us into the oblivion. Some of you may be facing hardship with your marriage, children, parents, friends or finances. There are many hardships in life that we as humans are not primed to face. In the flesh all troubles seem to be conquerable, but they are not. Life is wearisome when we keep considering the troubles we face (or faced). Yet, there is a joyful life. It is the life God allots us.
Imagine if all our troubles are erased or if we are primed to forget all the troubles of life. What a joy that would be! Imagine how life would be if for every trouble we find a solution to overcome and if trouble itself fears to drown us. Then, even in hardships we find a way to rejoice. This is not an ordinary matter. It is humanly impossible. The troubles that befall us will consume us to deprive us of the true joy we can find. To find a way to be delivered from every trouble is to be able to forget them. What man can forget the troubles of his life, unless he is made to forget by the God who is able to provide? That man’s life is also elected by God for His glory. It has been the case from the beginning with the people who trusted in Him. And, “Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, ‘For,’ he said, ‘God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household’” (Gen. 41:51).
There is nothing impossible for God. Whatever He wishes, He is able to do. He is able to bless that we find joy, which inexpressibly erases our hardships. We are familiar with Joseph and all the troubles he faced. Yet, at no instance was he left alone by the God almighty. It was because Joseph believed in Him according to the faith of his father and God had a purpose for him. He demonstrated his faith in God numerous times. It began with the dreams he related to his brothers and father. It continued in Potiphar’s house and in the prison after he was wrongly accused. Later, it continued in Pharaoh’s house. In every phase of his life he trusted in God and God was with him. He found favor both in the eyes of God and man. When pharaoh himself gave his daughter to Joseph by marriage, it was an indication to God’s compassion and love upon him. And when God blessed his wife with a son, he knew He established him and that it will not be annulled. God made him forget all his troubles and the sorrow of missing his father’s household by giving him a house.
There will always be critical or unique moments in life where God acts to confirm that He unconditionally loved us. It is not as though He was not with us before or would not be with us after, but those particular moments will be stand out moments to forget the troubles of our life and see the life God appointed to us. We never look back or dwell on the evil things that came upon us. It is to bring us to this position that God works with, in and around us from the moment He calls us. He fixes everything in our life and makes us more than appropriate to dwell on this earth. The things He is able to incredibly do in our life, no man, including ourselves, can do. It was not in Joseph from the time he was thrown into the pit to know the fruitful nature of his life. Yet, as he trusted God and believed in the power of faith, he was able to see the life He appointed for him. He found joy. Again, it is not unique that all men face troubles in life because of the work of sin and flesh. But, it is unique to have the God that makes us forget all our troubles. When God chooses the moment to bless us and erase our troubles, there is not a power that can prevent or erase it. The evidence speaks for itself. “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed?” (1 Sam. 6:6).
See, for every trouble in the life of His people God has a way to deliver them. It is in such deliverance they find inexpressible joy. God watches and waits for the time to act. He acts at a time when it brings His people great joy and utmost glory to Him. We know how severely he dealt with the Egyptians when He thought it to be the time to free His people. The works He performed freed them from under the toughest of circumstances. No matter the situation and how impossible it seems to forget our hardships, He has the power to erase them. We just have to wholly trust in Him. He will bend the heavens and churn the earth to give us joy. Can you envision the joy Israel had when they came out of Egypt? God chose them and so, gave them freedom. Furthermore, He allowed the Egyptians to give them their precious things. Later, He destroyed their armies before them. The nations feared Israel. God certainly knows how to glorify Himself. He has mighty thoughts and ways. As His people we must understand that receiving joy and bringing Him glory means to let Him have His way with us. He allows trouble to come upon us, but will not permit it to drown us; He helps us understand His purpose for us. Joseph, in Egypt, realizing it said to his brothers, ‘God sent me before you to preserve life.’ We must realize that this is for His glory, because at the obtaining of it He completes our purpose for Him. Then, we have inexpressible joy.
Throughout the days of Israel, when they were under the faithful servants of God, they escaped the troubles of life. It was because He chose them. Israel won numerous battles. They faced troubles often, but the Lord delivered them from them. For “they dedicated part of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of the LORD” (1 Chron. 26:27). Being with the Lord is the only way to overcome any or all hardship. Life is full of them, but the Lord is able to remove every one of them. Furthermore, our offering to the Lord will be an indication to our victory over our troubles. God allowed battles for Israel, but it was to greatly bless them and to greatly glorify His name. Throughout the history of Israel we see that being with the Lord gave Israel a joyful life. God appointed them a life that would fill them and honor Him. And God desiring to extend the joyful life to all the nations said to His chosen nation, “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs” (Isa. 54:2).
This is regarding the days that would be under Christ, who came forth from His chosen nation. God resolved to give the joyful life to everyone who believed in Him. Though troubles persist, Christ who has been appointed by God on their behalf will remove them for them. He gives them power that they should not diminish and become strong for the widening of His kingdom. And so, God desired to fulfill what He resolved, i.e. to bring all nations under Him through the salvation offered in Christ. He desired to make no distinction between Jew and Gentile so that all would become His children through His Son. He appointed men to fulfill His intent. When the time came He said, “and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:14).
The result is well known. Cornelius and his household were saved. In order that this should be the case with all who hear the gospel and that they are freed from all hardships God made it a standard to all the nations to hear His Word. The gospel will give Christ to the world to separate them from sin and flesh, and from the troubles that befall them. The often they hear it, the more they will be able to trust in Him, and He will erase all the troubles of their life. This is the life God appointed for all who believe in Jesus. The God who was with Jacob and Israel is also now the God with all who believe. His Word will save them through guidance, judgments and wisdom. That they should possess these and all their troubles are erased and conquered, the resurrection of Jesus became a stand out moment. And “Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large” (Mark 16:4).
Christ has risen. Therefore, there’s not a trouble that will overcome us so as to drown us. No matter how great it is, if we have His words, God removes it for us. Then, joy will certainly take its seat in us. That the stone was rolled away meant there is not a single reason to fear; Jesus has overcome all hardships for us, even the ones that are to come our way, if we believed. If God has done what men think is impossible, there is nothing present that is far from being possible to Him. So, let us trust in Him with all our heart and might; when in weakness believe that He is able to make us strong and realize He has made His people forget all their troubles. And, He has appointed a promise to execute in us. “‘I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them,’ Says the LORD your God” (Amos 9:15).