EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

MARCH 14, 2023

TOPIC: EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING

BY T. O. BANSO

“By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 New Century Version).

There is a tendency for many people to live their lives unconcerned about what happens to others. Also, some people think that whatever is happening to them is peculiar to them. They think everyone is having a ‘good life’ except themselves. But the truth is that everybody is going through something.

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (New International Version). Note the last part of this scripture: “because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

In other words, if someone is suffering, he should not think that he is the only one in that condition. We live in a broken and fallen world. We are not yet in heaven. The fact that you’re a Christian does not exempt you from some challenges of life that non-Christians are going through. Neither are you exempt from some troubles that other Christians are facing. Ignorance of this has affected the faith of some people when they find themselves going through certain things. They had thought that as Christians, they wouldn’t because they pray, fast, live a holy life, and serve God.

But Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 New King James Version). The New Living Translation puts it this way: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” In other words, we can have peace in Jesus even as we face trials and sorrows in this world. He didn’t say we are exempt.

Everybody is going through something. In your neighbourhood, church, or at work, don’t think that you’re the only one facing challenges. Don’t go about thinking that the whole world is against you! If you hear what others are facing, you will develop a positive attitude as you go through your situation and will not have a victim mentality.

On the other hand, your condition could be better than that of others. Don’t go about thinking everyone enjoys what you enjoy or rejoicing as you are and become unmindful of others or inconsiderate. Everybody is going through something. Understanding this will help you to be careful about how you relate to others. It will help you to mind how you talk to people. It will also help you to show an understanding of why people behave the way they do. Sometimes someone could be behaving in a certain way because of what he/she is going through. Everybody is going through something, which could affect his/her mood, look, behaviour, or speech.

Be concerned about others. Be sensitive to their look and mood. If you’re, you will not be self-centred. You will be considerate of how you respond to them. You be able to ask questions that will help them in their situations. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves” (GOD’S WORD Translation). The New King James Version says it like this: “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well–being.”

Everybody is going through something. But some people are only concerned about themselves. While some people are looking for another person to share their burdens with or talk to, it appears to them that everybody else is busy with his/her life. Yet, we are not meant to go through life alone. We need each other. We need godly company. That is one of the benefits of belonging to a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church and being a member of a small group in the church.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (New International Version). When you become a Christian, you are adopted into the family of God. The church is the family of God on the earth (Romans 8:16-17; Ephesians 2:19). Do you have a church family where you can give and receive love, support, and encouragement, and can serve? Do you belong to a small group in the church?

Everybody is going through something. Therefore, we should be concerned about others. Show love to them. 1 Corinthians 13:5b says love does not seek its own. In other words, love is not self-seeking or selfish. As you go about your daily activities, know that everybody is going through something. The person you are going to talk to next may be going through something that your word or how you relate to him/her could be helpful or destructive. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6 New International Version).

Words can heal or hurt. “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health” (Proverbs 12:18 New King James Version). Be mindful of what you say to people and how you communicate with them whether you or they initiated the discussion. Listen to them. You may not even have the solution to their problems but listening to them alone has a healing effect. And when you talk, don’t be judgmental like the friends of Job. Don’t have a critical spirit. Show compassion. 1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (New King James Version). Empathize with people; don’t condemn them thereby adding to their injury.

I’m wondering that probably the Prophet Elijah would not have fled and asked God to kill him if he had someone, especially a man of God like him, to talk to after Jezebel vowed to kill him for killing all the prophets of Baal! You would recall that he told God twice on Mount Horeb that the Israelites had killed His prophets with the sword and they wanted to kill him, the only one left (1 Kings 19:10, 14). Elijah was feeling lonely.

God didn’t kill him but sent him back with the assignment to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel and Elisha as a prophet in his place (verses 15-16). In addition, to correct Elijah, God told him that He had reserved seven thousand in Israel whose knees had not bowed to Baal and every mouth that had not kissed him. In other words, Elijah wasn’t the only one left serving the true God. He didn’t know this until God told him although Obadiah had told him how he hid one hundred prophets of God in two caves when Jezebel was killing the prophets (1 Kings 18:13, 4). Have you shared with someone what you’re going through or are you someone people can share what they’re going through with?

Everybody is going through something whether a pastor or a church member. But that doesn’t mean you should face your life alone. “By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 New Century Version). The law of Christ in this scripture is to love one another. Even in your own condition, you can still help others. It could be by telling them what you’re going through thereby making them realize that everybody is going through something. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 New King James Version)

Your transparency and authenticity could help their faith to go through what they are going through. But it also helps you, too. Those who minister to others know that both they and those they minister to benefit from it. Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Everybody is going through something. If you’re strong, help those who are weak. Those who are strong should be concerned about the welfare of others who are weak, not themselves. But everyone actually is weak in one area or the other and can help another person.

Everybody is going through something but not necessarily the same thing. Share your burden with others, especially those you trust. Don’t bear the burden alone. Because everybody is going through something, we should show love to each other through words and actions. Be considerate. “Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice! Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon” (Philippians 4:4-5 The Living Bible). In addition, we should pray for each other. “As one piece of iron sharpens another, so friends keep each other sharp” (Proverbs 27:17 Easy-to-Read Version). The prayer of a righteous man (woman) is powerful and effective (James 5:16b).

You will come through what you’re going through in Jesus’ name.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart.  By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, help Your children to help each other with their troubles, thereby truly obeying the law of Christ. Deliver us from lack of love manifesting in selfishness, critical spirit, and insensitivity to the troubles of others. We shall pray for and sharpen one another. We shall resist the devil and stand firm in the faith in Jesus’ name.

(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org