ANGRY?!

Yes I do get angry! Sometimes I get so pissed at life that I feel it is so meaningless. I get so frustrated, infuriated, enraged, irate, irksome, exasperated, and other strings of words of the likes. People and situations around me just seem to want eagerly to get to my nerves and hit the anger button. Sometimes I feel that I should just quit everything and lie down on my bed and listen to Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars and reminiscence about my childhood days. But NO! That’s not the answer to life’s many hurdles. Pick yourself up! Lift your silly whining face off the ground and wake up! There is more to life than this!

Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Let us now look at Jesus. The verse above tells us something really significant. I have posted a post on this verse in one of my many previous posts, go read it, it is good stuff. Well, there is just so much to this portion of Scripture that I can not stop sharing with you. One of the things you can do is memorize this verse and meditate upon it and let God speak to you.
Ok now, back to the verse. Let us look at the part which says, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross,” Do you understand this? My dear brothers and sisters, our dear Jesus has been through much more than any of you had. He has been persecuted where ever he goes. He performed many miracles in front of many people but many still regard him a hoax, a bogus and someone “dreaming big”! Many did not believe that he was the Son of God. He came to earth to die for them so that they might go to heaven but still many persecuted him! It is like you going to MidValley Mega Mall and giving away the latest Nokia mobile phones to every passer-by and along with it, a packet of Ang Pao containing RM50 and when the people sees it, they chased you out and spits at you and kicks you like a hog! That, my friend, was what Jesus went through.

BUT...

Jesus saw “something”. Read the verse again, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross,”. That’s it! Now you get it? Jesus saw the JOY set BEFORE HIM! He saw the JOY that he was going to get after he has went through the cross! Jesus’ biggest hurdle wasn’t the persecutions and rejections, they were just minor stuff. His biggest was the cross! Even before he was supposed to be nailed, he prayed and asked God IF it is possible and according to God’s will, may God take the cross away so Jesus don’t have to go through it. Jesus dreaded it, BUT he saw the JOY for him AFTER he has went through the cross – the joy of the redemption of God’s beloved children.

Today, know that whatever you are going through, whatever situations that might be a real pain for you, whatever problems your family is having, see the joy set before you. Like Jesus, endure your cross. Stand firm, do not let your anger and frustration get the better of you. Know that God has a reason for everything.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God knows what He is doing. Stick close to Him in the face of difficulties and rejoice together with him in the face of stillness and peace. When life seems good, God seems distant, when life seems bad, God has a reason. God wants you to know that you need Him at all times, to test you that when you get angry and frustrated, who will you turn to. Sometimes troubles are just wake up calls from God. So wake up, pick yourself up and start living again. See the joy that is about to come.

Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength,
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Endure with Christ,
Zlwin Chew.