Have you ever noticed that the Bible asks you to so some seriously counterintuitive things? Look at some of these statements from the New Testament.
When troubles come your way, consider it...great joy.
James 1:2
Do not be anxious about anything.
Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about tomorrow.
Matthew 6:34
When people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you...Be happy about it!
Matthew 5:11, 12
Really God? When you think about it, it just doesn’t make sense to our natural mind. You feel like saying, “God, that’s not how it works.”
The reality is His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) And if it was easy, it would come naturally. But it doesn’t. Our flesh doesn't want to do things God’s way and that’s probably why the Bible has to remind us again and again how to live life God’s way.
We are called to walk according to the Spirit rather than the flesh. (Romans 8) God sometimes asks us to do the difficult things in our spiritual walk. We have to remember that no matter how hard it may be, His ways are best. God calls us in His Word to come, wait, and ask of Him all that we need. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to listen and obey the Word of God. The good news is He is always more than eager to help us.
