Tough times

 

Read this if you want to understand:


Should we EXPECT to go through tough times?


Why does God ALLOW us to go through tough times?


How to DEAL with tough times




1. Avoiding the shocks



When we drive over speed bumps:






It’s the same with tough times:






2. Should we expect to go through tough times?



Do we believe what Jesus says?



John 16:33 ~ These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.


In the world ye shall have tribulation (= pressure / persecution / trouble): 


but be of good cheer (= don’t be downhearted); I have overcome the world.



--> Jesus said that we WILL have troubles in this life.



--> So there’s no point ‘sticking our head in the sand like an ostrich' and hoping that we won’t have any problems - that’s unrealistic:






3. Examples of tough times




A. PAUL



St Paul’s Cathedral in London is a large & beautiful building.


But the real Apostle Paul didn’t live in such a grand place - he had a VERY tough life.




2 Corinthians 11:23-27


23Are they ministers (= servants) of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more;


in labours more abundant, in stripes (= lashes) above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft (= often on the point of death).


24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one (= 39 lashes on five occasions).




25Thrice (= three times) was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep (= adrift on the open sea);




26In journeyings often (= constantly on the move), in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen,


in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;




27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings (= going without sleep) often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.



--> Paul suffered.




B. JOHN & THE SEVEN CHURCHES HE / JESUS WROTE TO



Revelation 1:9 ~ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation …


--> John & the seven churches suffered.




C. DAVID


Was the greatest king Israel ever had.


But he wrote many of the Psalms while hiding in the wilderness, from enemies who were trying to kill him!




D. GIDEON


Before Gideon defeated the Midianites - he was having a ‘pity party / whingeing session’:



Judges 6:12-13


12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him (= to Gideon), and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.


13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us?


And where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?


But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.



--> Gideon & the Israelites were going through a tough time.




Further reading

Genesis 47:9

Esther 4:1 & 3

Job 14:1


Psalms 34:19, 69:17, 119:107, 132:1, 142:1-7, 143:1-12


Proverbs 17:17

Ecclesiastes 3:4, 9:2 & 11


Isaiah 35:10

Acts 14:21-22

Romans 8:35-36


2 Corinthians 1:3-9, 4:8-9, 6:4-5, 7:4-5, 8:1-2, 12:7-10


Ephesians 3:13

1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2:14-15

2 Timothy 4:5


Hebrews 5:8, 11:36-38, 13:3


James 5:13

1 Peter 1:6, 5:9

Revelation 2:9




4. So suffering goes with being a believer



Life on this earth is like driving from A to B:







1 Thessalonians 2:2 ~ But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, 


at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention (= against strong opposition).




5. Persecution



Anyone in the world can suffer - for example: earthquakes & flooding affect everyone in a community.



But PERSECUTION for Christians, means SUFFERING BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH.




Jesus said that we WILL be persecuted:



John 15:20 ~ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you …



--> If we’re not being persecuted in our: school / workplace / family etc. - maybe we're not living out our faith strongly enough!




6. There are many examples of persecution



Daniel - was thrown into the lions’ den. 

(Daniel 6:16)



Jeremiah - was beaten, thrown into prison and then into a dungeon: where he sank into the mud.

(Jeremiah 20:1-2, 33:1, 38:6)



James (brother of John) - was killed with a sword by King Herod.

(Acts 12:1-2)



Non-Christians tried to kill Paul three times - in:


a. Damascus  (Acts 9:23-25)


b. Lystra  (Acts 14:19)


c. Jerusalem  (Acts 23:12)


… and also persecuted Paul & his team in many other ways.

(Acts 13:49-52, 17:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4)




Further reading


Psalms 37:32, 38:19-20, 119:157, 119:161


Matthew 14:1-11 / Mark 6:17-28


Matthew 10:22-23 & 28; 13:20-21, 17:12-13, 22:2-6, 23:34


Mark 4:17


Luke 4:28-29, 21:12-17


John 7:1 & 19, 8:37, 40 & 59; 10:39, 11:8, 12:10-11, 15:18-21, 16:1-3, 17:14


Acts 9:16


Philippians 1:29


2 Timothy 1:7-8, 2:8-9, 3:11-12


Hebrews 10:32-33


James 5:10


1 John 3:13




7. What attitude should we have towards persecution?



Acts 5:41 ~ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.



--> Peter & the other Apostles considered it an HONOUR to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel.


--> Just like the early Christians in Rome praised God when being eaten by lions.




Q - Why?


A - Because they weren’t scared to die, and were looking forward to their reward in Heaven:



Revelation 2:10 ~ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; 


and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.




Illustration


It's like how hopeful politicians face all sorts of abuse, when they're trying to be elected.


But they put up with this abuse - it's worth it for the later reward of serving in government.



 

Matthew 5:10-12


10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

 

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

 

12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 



Further reading


Luke 6:22-23


Acts 16:23-25, 20:22-24


2 Thessalonians 1:5


Hebrews 10:34-36, 11:35


1 Peter 3:14 & 17-18, 4:13-16




8. What should we do to people who persecute us?



Romans 12:14 ~ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.







1 Peter 2:21-23


21For even hereunto were ye called (= to this you were called): because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:


22Who did no sin, neither was guile (= deceit) found in His mouth:


23Who, when He was reviled (= abused / insulted), reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.



--> So we should:


A. Follow Jesus’ example and not retaliate.


B. Hand the situation over to God the Father - He’ll judge everyone perfectly on Judgement Day, far better than we could!




Further reading

Isaiah 66:5


Matthew 5:44-48

Romans 12:19-21


1 Corinthians 4:11-13

2 Thessalonians 1:4 & 6


2 Timothy 4:14

Revelation 16:6-7


'What happens when we die?' message on WholeCounselofGod.com




Having looked at suffering & persecution, let’s move on to:




9. Why does God allow us to go through tough times?




Let's look at the FOUR main reasons.




A. To improve our character, so that we become more like Jesus.



For example, if we’re impatient - God puts us into situations where we can develop patience:



Romans 5:3 ~ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh (= produces) patience.




Illustration


It’s like learning to drive:






God may even allow unfair things to happen to us.


So that instead of anger & bitterness - we can develop forgiveness.




Q - Why?


A - Because God’s more concerned with forming our character for eternity, than with giving us a cushy life here on earth:




Zechariah 13:9 ~ And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try (= test) them as gold is tried …



--> The gold / silver-smith would refine the metal by heating it - then skim off the unwanted impurities as they float to the surface:







Illustration


Aircraft take-off facing the wind: because that's the quickest way to get airborne.


In the same way: adversity helps our character to develop quicker - but the tough times are often uncomfortable.




In the Book of Revelation, Jesus promises great rewards for overcomers: 




2:7 ~ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.




2:11 ~ He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.




2:17 ~ To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone,


and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.




2:26 ~ And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.




3:5 ~ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;


and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.




3:12 ~ Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: 


and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My God:


and I will write upon him My new name.




3:21 ~ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set (= sat) down with My Father in His throne.




21:7 ~ He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.




--> So we need to be overcomers.


--> But we can ONLY be overcomers, if we have something to overcome!

 



Illustration


A pressure cooker turns unpalatable ingredients into something much better - a delicious meal.


God sometimes puts believers into His ‘pressure cooker’ - to turn us into better characters.




Further reading


Numbers 31:23

Psalms 66:10-12, 119:71 & 75


Proverbs 17:3, 25:4

Isaiah 48:10


Malachi 3:2-3 & 14-17


John 15:1-2

Philippians 3:10

2 Timothy 2:3


Hebrews 2:9-10, 12:2-11

James 1:2-4

1 Peter 5:10




B. To test that our faith is strong.



1 Peter 4:12-13


12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:


13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.




Tests / trials are a NORMAL part of our Christian life.



Just like a:






Deuteronomy 8:2 ~ And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, 


to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no.



--> God ‘puts us into the wilderness’ - to TEST what’s in our heart.


--> To find out IF we’ll stick with Him when the going gets tough.




On the famous South Pole expedition - when man-hauling sledges in extreme conditions - one of Captain Scott’s team (who was a Christian) observed:


‘The character of a man comes out and you see things that were never expected.


You get to know each other inside-out and respect some more, and unfortunately, some less.’




Proverbs 24:10 ~ If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.








Further reading

Exodus 16:4, 20:20


1 Chronicles 29:17

2 Chronicles 32:31


Psalms 7:9, 11:4-5, 17:3


Jeremiah 9:7, 12:5, 17:10, 20:12


Daniel 12:10

1 Corinthians 3:11-15


1 Timothy 3:10

1 Peter 1:7




C.  So that we can help other people in similar circumstances.



For example - believers who have been:




 

...  can better understand & help others still in that situation.




2 Corinthians 1:4-6


4Who (= God) comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,


by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 




5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (= comfort & encouragement) also aboundeth by Christ.




 6And whether (= if) we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation,


which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: 


or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.




D. To force us out of our comfort zone, so that we spread the Gospel.







Let’s look at Acts 8:1 & 4


1And Saul was consenting unto his death (= to Stephen’s death). And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem;


and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.


…


4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.









--> The disciples then obeyed the Great Commission.




Let’s see what happened in Acts 11:19-21


19Now they which were scattered abroad upon (= because of) the persecution that arose about Stephen


travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.




20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians (= Greeks), preaching the Lord Jesus.




21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.



-->  So the persecution in Jerusalem led to the Kingdom of God expanding elsewhere.




In the same way:


a. The Protestant reformation was making little headway in Scotland - until Patrick Hamilton was burnt at the stake in St Andrews.


b. The wider population then asked: ‘Why was this done to him? What did he believe?’


c. The answers they discovered led many thousands of people into a new & living faith in Jesus.



Further reading

Exodus 1:12

Acts 8:3-5




RECAP of why God allows us to go through tough times:



A. To improve our character, so that we become more like Jesus.



B. To test that our faith is strong.



C. So that we can help other people in similar circumstances.



D. To force us out of our comfort zone, so that we spread the Gospel.




10. What helps us to deal with the tough times?




A. Taking the long-term view.

 


2 Corinthians 4:17-18


17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;


18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:


for the things which are seen are temporal (= temporary); but the things which are not seen are eternal.


 


--> So we should look at our lives / problems:






Illustration


Our life on earth can sometimes feel like climbing a steep, tall mountain:




 


It’s thought that 11 out of the 12 Apostles in Acts 1:13 & 26 were martyred for their faith.


(The exception was John - who probably died of natural causes at Ephesus.)




Like us, the Apostles had a choice - they could either:




A. Take the option which at the time seemed tougher:




... but then receive their reward from Jesus: ‘Well done, good & faithful servant’.

   (Matthew 25:20-23)



or



B. Take the easy option:





... but still die, and probably receive no eternal reward from Jesus. 

    (Matthew 25:24-30)




--> The Apostles made the right choice - Option A.


--> So should we!




Further reading


Deuteronomy 8:15-16, 26:6-9

1 Chronicles 29:15

Job 19:25-27


Psalms 71:20, 126:5-6

Daniel 3:17-18, 7:18


Matthew 5:3-5

Luke 6:22-23, 22:28-30

Romans 8:18


2 Corinthians 4:17-18

2 Timothy 2:12


Hebrews 10:38-39, 11:24-26

James 1:12


1 Peter 1:3-6, 5:10

Revelation 2:10, 7:13-17




B. Knowing that God can help us - by strengthening us or intervening.

 


Just like He strengthened Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane:

 

Luke 22:43 ~ And there appeared an angel unto Him from Heaven, strengthening Him.

 



Illustration


It’s like when we first wake-up in the morning - we may not feel we can do much.


But after a good breakfast & a decent cup of coffee - these onerous tasks seem much easier!

 



Further reading about God strengthening us

Psalms 37:39, 46:1-3

Daniel 10:18-19


Micah 7:7-8

Zechariah 10:6


John 16:32

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

2 Timothy 4:16-18

 

 


God can also directly intervene to help us:

 

Daniel 3:25-28


25He (= King Nebuchednezzar) answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, 


and they have no hurt (= are unharmed); and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

 



26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said,


Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither.


Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

 



27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power,


nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on (= departed from) them.



 

28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 


who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, 


and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not


(= had set aside the king's command, and were willing to give up their lives rather than) serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

 



Example


On two occasions, we were facing major problems with mending essential services to our house - complex jobs because of the locations:



  



1 Peter 5:7 ~ Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.




Further reading about God intervening to help us


1 Samuel 1:9-11 & 19-20

Psalms 37:40, 138:7


Isaiah 43:2

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

2 Timothy 3:11




C. Knowing that God’s in charge of our lives - and trusting Him.



Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.



--> Whatever we’re going through - God’s weaving this into His plan for our life.



--> So if we moan & complain - we’re saying to God:

‘I don’t like what You’re doing in my life and I’d do it differently.’




Illustration


It’s like when children are vaccinated:





We don’t see the whole, long-term plan - but God knows what He’s doing!




Further reading


Genesis 37:33 then 45:4-8 & 27-28

(Joseph; Jacob & his sons)


Psalms 16:8, 112:7

Proverbs 3:5


Jeremiah 17:7-8

1 Peter 4:19,  5:7


Appendix A at the end of this message




RECAP of what can help us to DEAL with tough times:



A. Taking the long-term view.



B. Knowing that God can help us - by strengthening us or intervening.



C. Knowing that God’s in charge of our lives - and trusting Him.




11. Job is the great example of how to deal with tough times



Job 1:1 ~ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed (= turned away from) evil.







Verses 2-3

2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 


3His substance also was (= he owned) seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of (= 1,000) oxen, and five hundred she asses (= 500 female donkeys),


and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.







Verses 6-8

6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.


7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.




8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job,


that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?






So we mustn’t assume that if people are going through a tough time, it’s because of their sin.



Further reading

Luke 1:6-7

Acts 16:9-10 then 22-24




Verses 9-12

9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 


10Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? 


Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.


11But put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face. 


12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.



Further reading

Isaiah 45:7




--> What happened next was to test:






Verses 13-19

13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 




14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:


15And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from Heaven,


and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands,


and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




18While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:


19And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote (= struck) the four corners of the house, 


and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.








Verses 20-21

20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle (= tore his robe), and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,


21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.







Further reading

Ezekiel 24:18

Habakkuk 3:17-19


Philippians 4:4

Revelation 1:9-10




Verse 22

22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


--> Job did NOT blame God.

 



Job 2:1-10


1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.


2And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.




3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job,


that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?


And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst Me against him, to destroy him without cause.




4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.


5But put forth Thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to thy face.




6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.




7So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.


8And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal (= a piece of pottery to scrape himself with); and he sat down among the ashes. 




9Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die. 




10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.


What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.




Q: What was happening here?



A: 






Job had NO IDEA that God and Satan were debating how strong Job's faith was:






Later on - Job DID understand:


Job 23:10 ~ But He (= God) knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.



--> God puts us through trials.


--> Because He wants to know if we’ll trust & worship Him - WHATEVER happens.




Further reading

Job 13:15, chapter 29

James 5:11


Appendix B at the end of this message.




12. Next steps



Let’s:






APPENDIX A



John Elias was a humble preacher - greatly used by God in Welsh revivals of the late 18th & early 19th centuries.



John Elias' letter to a lady who was going through a very tough time with one of her children



---------------------------------



Perhaps this storm that has overtaken you prevents some other from assailing you that would be far worse. 



The Lord sometimes sends one trial as a means to keep back another that would be more demanding.



He suffers (= allows) one temptation to afflict His children, that it may be the means of saving them from one that is more painful;


as the ‘thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan,’ was given to buffet St Paul, that he might not be ‘exalted above measure’.



The Lord had rather that the messenger of Satan should buffet Paul, than he be puffed up with his thoughts. 



And Paul himself, no doubt, preferred this, when he perceived the end of the Lord in it.



So, perhaps, the affliction that hath befallen you and your family is intended to prevent some evils that would be more overwhelming.



I cannot say what they are, but God sees the evil afar off, and secures His people in a refuge before the storm comes. 



You shall hereafter see the end the Lord had in view, far better than I can tell you. 



And I have no doubt but that you shall have cause to praise the Lord for this distressing visitation. 



May ‘patience have its good work’. ‘Humble yourself under the almighty hand of God, that you may be exalted in due time.’



Dear sister, all the storms will pass by soon. It is only ‘for a night that sorrow cometh’. 



But be assured that many a subject for praise and singing shall be obtained in the valley of humiliation;


yea, these trials shall be matters of joy and praise for ever.



A view of Christ’s glory and unspeakable riches of grace often causes the believer to forget his trouble.



May your soul be enabled to see and delight itself in view of these.



---------------------------------



APPENDIX B



Good example of how to behave and how not to behave - when things don't go as we'd like them to



John Elias was a humble preacher - greatly used by God in Welsh revivals of the late 18th & early 19th centuries.



Money was not plentiful and to fund the ministry,  Reverend & Mrs Elias ran a small shop in a poor village on the island of Anglesey.



A relative & his wife - Mr & Mrs Roberts - ran a similar business a few miles to the east.



Both couples imported goods for sale from Liverpool, by sea. 



One incoming cargo was completely lost when the ship was wrecked and thieves plundered anything of value. 



Some business people on Anglesey suffered great financial loss - including Reverend & Mrs Elias and Mr & Mrs Roberts. 



In his desperation, Mr Roberts went to visit Reverend John Elias - but found that he was away.



After Mr Roberts and Reverend Elias had returned to their homes - John Elias wrote to his kinsman (= relative):


---------------------------------



My dear brother, I am sorry that I have to make a complaint against a kinsman of mine, who lives a short distance from me to the east, who one day visited my family, who were beset by a little trial.




I would have thought that my pious kinsman would have given them good counsel,


cautioning them against grumbling, and exhorting them to submit to the wise vicissitudes of providence (= change of fortune); 


comforting them, and showing them that all things work for good, etc.




But my kinsman, too, was in a misfortune of the same nature; he had slipped in his mind as if God had forgotten him, or that God was dead;


and that no one could sustain him anymore, and prosper him in his circumstances and give him a bite of bread.



He had forgotten Job’s example; he had forgotten the 6th of Matthew and the 12th of Luke, or else he had cast doubts on the veracity 

(= truthfulness) of these chapters.




Thus, instead of giving my family a good example, and good counsel suitable for the occasion, he behaved as one who had no belief in God,


knowing not how to trust Him under His chastisement, looking up to Him through clouds hid from sight.




He spoke like the Gentiles who know not God, and threw my family into deeper despondency.




If you know my kinsman, and if you are conversant with the state of his mind these days, please endeavour to convince him;


try to turn his face towards God’s rule over all things; that He may at all times order matters for the best purpose; that in tribulations and crosses one must exercise trust and submission;


and must avoid thinking, in the midst of the darkest night, that God cannot change it into shining daylight, causing the light to chase away the blackest darkness.




Say, also, to my kinsman (if you find opportunity to meet him), to beware of killing the new kind and tender wife that he has been presented, through his dissatisfaction;


and remember to quote these words to him: ‘Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thyself?’




Please also inform him that I have not written as a Stoic, but with my eye fixed on God’s providence, believing that He makes all things good,


and that it is possible to be joyful in Him though bereft (= lacking) of the things of this world.




Yet, in spite of all this, I would gladly welcome my kinsman here as often as he likes!




Give my kind regards to Mrs Roberts. I hope she finds support to live far more devoutly than the person mentioned above.




I am, your afflicted friend and brother and fellow labourer.


John Elias


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Appendix C


John Newton's letter to someone experiencing great stress



John Newton was a prominent evangelical pastor in 18th century England and author of the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’.

 

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Trials, my dear friend, of one kind or other; to prove, exercise and manifest our faith, patience and grace;


are as necessary to us as weights are to a grandfather clock; if they were not we should not have them.


For the Lord does not grieve us for His own pleasure, but for our profit.

 

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Amen