“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted; and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.  But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe.”  2 Timothy 3:12-14

               “In this world, you shall have tribulations.  Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

                 Yes, I know.  Keeping the faith and being cheerful in challenges is a lot easier said than done.  Daily, we are being presented with trials from Satan, but God will not let him go beyond our limit of faith.

                I love the phrase, “It came to pass….”  used in Scripture, like in Genesis 4:3 (Cain and Abel and offerings); 4:8 (Cain killed Abel); I Samuel 1:12 (Hannah praying); I Kings 18:1 (Elijah and Ahab and drought); Luke 2:1-7 (the birth of Jesus); Matthew 11:1 (Jesus begins his ministry). 

              The phrase can be found 452 times in the KJV of the Bible.  It is not found in the first three chapters of the Bible in Genesis because time did not matter until Adam sinned.  The phrase is tied to time and death.  So, “it came to pass” begins human history, and that history is often bloody, violent, and evil.  Eventually, God sent a flood, but He never forgot mankind.  He did not want anyone to perish then, nor does He want that now.  That is why “it came to pass,” and He sent Jesus!

                 “It came to pass.”  That is what trials do.  They come to pass.  These are strengthening occurrences that are preparing us beyond our limited vision.  God knows what He is doing.  We do not see the end results, but He does.

                 We must not mistakenly blame God for our problems.  It is sin that entered the world and is the device of Satan that manipulates Earth’s inhabitants.  We are not immune, but we are blood-bought and sanctified.  Satan cannot get to us personally, so he uses our greatest weaknesses to bring us anguish, trying to bring us down.

                 Do we think Job was the first, last, and only challenge Satan threw at God?  We should consider ourselves blessed that God has said, “Have you considered my servant, _____(insert your name)       ?  On our knees, believers, we should thank God for the opportunity to bring Him glory.  This, too, has only come to pass and leave a stronger servant in its wake.

                 These troubles of life have come to pass and will be gone some day.  Then, God’s family will not have sorrow, pain, or suffering any more.  Our lives will not continue here forever, but if we are in God’s family, we will be part of His forever family!

                 We must remember that God loves us and pray that He will continue to bless us abundantly, in His will.

                          Joyce Smith Broyles is a retired School Librarian and resides in Jennings, LA.