By: Obed Pineda
If an acquaintance who has observed your faithful devotion to God were to approach you and ask, “What is the most difficult challenge a Christian must learn to overcome on this narrow path?” what would your answer be? Chances are that the most popular response that appeared immediately in the mind of the majority of those whose eyes read this composition is putting to death the lusts of the flesh. There is no doubt that upon learning that “those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” it becomes undeniably evident why so few choose to enter the narrow gate (Galatians 5:24, Matthew 7:13-14). However, an argument can be made that this feat can be accomplished when there is a true desire to transform for the better, which begins with the renewal of one’s train of thought (cf. Romans 12:1-2, 1st John 2:15-17). Additionally, it helps to stop looking at this necessity as impossible because “His commandments are not burdensome” (1st John 5:3b) and look to (and learn from) the many examples of faithful servants of God who successfully mastered this task in times past (cf. Genesis 39:6-12 & Daniel 1:3-16). Perhaps your response is learning to forebear with your fellow man’s shortcomings. It has been said before that every head is its own world and because of it, getting people to amicably agree on matters of opinion is almost unachievable. Nonetheless, Holy Writ proves that this dilemma is easily solved when one humbles himself by putting the interests of others before his own (cf. Philippians 2:3-4). There is no question that either of these responses (along with a plethora of others that may be provided) do require an arduous amount of work and commitment revealing how heavy the cross one bears can sometimes be. Indisputably neither one of the answers are wrong because to be able to acquire spiritual strength from these challenges, they both demand the person to focus on Christ daily. Even though these two examples are certainly hard to master, it is the effort and diligence one puts into these endeavors that makes them challenging. If seen from a different angle, those goals can be reached because the person striving toward them is in control of the tools at his disposition. What happens when a situation arises where there is nothing you can do to solve it? When you cannot prevent or evade the inevitable, dire outcome and all you can do is wait? The tornado, hurricane, or fire menacing to take everything you worked so hard to build and being unable to stop it from happening, leaves you distraught. Receiving the undesired news that a husband, wife, child, or parent has been diagnosed with a mortal incurable disease, realizing that the time you have left with them is quickly slipping away, makes you numb from the pain, confusion, and despair because there is nothing you can do to revert time and hold this off from ever being true. It can be agreed that in these moments (that are regrettably far too common in this life) sentiments of incompetency sprout fed by the frustration of impotence and the terrible dread of vulnerability. For this reason, it is the humble opinion of this article’s author that the most challenging lesson one as a Christian must learn is to be still and wait in God. These sour occasions are vital tests to the faith of a Christian primarily because his hands are metaphorically bound and must solely depend on God. It is not unlikely for a person to turn to prayer when these dreadful days arrive, but he who turns to the Lord in prayer must also learn to wait for His response. The weeping prophet states, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:25-26). The prophet Jeremiah earlier in the Scripture describes the desolated state of Jerusalem and bemoans his people’s utter demise (Lamentations 3:1-20). Keep in mind that the prophet of the Lord spent years preaching to the people of Judah, begging them to repent and return to Jehovah God to stop their prophesied destruction from ever taking place. The children of Judah rejected Jeremiah’s urgent message to them and because of it, sealed their captivity into Babylon (cf. Jeremiah 25:1-14). Jeremiah was unable to prevent God’s inevitable judgment to be poured out on his people and Lamentations is his eyewitness account of the aftermath of this event. The horrible scene described by the prophet in this inspired Hebrew poem, certainly validates the reason for his many shed tears, but also illuminates the extraordinary restoration power of hope. In spite of beholding the consummation of his nation’s obduracy, the prophet proclaims, “‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him’” (Lamentations 3:24)! Like Jeremiah, Abraham also illustrates the strength of his faith by waiting with the Lord. God had declared to His friend that due to the overabundance and gravity of sin in Sodom and Gomorrah, He was going to have to destroy them, after allowing the cities of the plain one final opportunity to depart from the wickedness (Genesis 18:17-33). Sodom was the place where Lot, Abraham’s nephew, dwelt in (Genesis 19:1). Therefore, when the two angels turned to head toward Sodom and Gomorrah, the Bible states that “Abraham still stood before the Lord” (Genesis 18:22). Abraham did not obstruct God’s heavenly beings from obeying the command that had been given to them. Instead, he proceeds to speak with God seeking to obtain understanding (cf. Genesis 18:23-33). God permits Abraham to inquire of Him regarding His decision, but also provides answers to His friend. Abraham and Jeremiah waited for God’s answer, trusting in Him. The potency of their faith is displayed in remaining still, because they knew that He is God (cf. Psalm 46:10). There was no doubt that God is able to open a pathway to salvation, even when one is not apparent (cf. Exodus 14:5-14, Acts 12:1-11). Their complete reliance upon God is also manifested in that they accepted the will of God, without murmuring. Those whose faith is deeply rooted into Christ, never lose sight of the protection, presence, and power of God (cf. Psalm 46, Philippians 4). They know to turn to Him, and patiently wait for His response (2nd Timothy 4:16-18, 1st Peter 5:6-7). Thus, when those obsidian days appear in the lives of mature and mighty Christians, they know how to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, Who is with you” (2nd Chronicles 20:17).