How should we respond when God uses trials to correct us? God’s Hand in Our Hardships • 2 Chronicles 33:11 – “Therefore the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.” • Trials are never random; the Lord Himself “brought” the Assyrians. • Behind the human agents stands a sovereign Father whose purpose is corrective, not vindictive (cf. Job 5:17-18). Respond with Humility and Repentance • Manasseh “humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers” (2 Chron 33:12). • Revelation 3:19 – “Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.” • Genuine repentance means: – Admitting sin without excuses. – Turning from it decisively. – Seeking God’s mercy because of Christ’s finished work. Receive the Father’s Love in Discipline • Hebrews 12:5-6 – “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord… because the Lord disciplines the one He loves.” • Proverbs 3:11-12 echoes the same. • His chastening certifies our sonship; it is proof we belong to Him. Submit to His Training • James 1:2-4 teaches that testing produces endurance and maturity. • Romans 5:3-5 shows suffering forging character and hope. • Practical steps: – Stop resisting; surrender the timetable and outcome to God. – Ask what He is teaching, then align attitudes and actions accordingly. – Keep rooted in Scripture; let truth interpret feelings. Walk in Renewed Obedience • After restoration Manasseh “removed the foreign gods… and restored the altar of the LORD” (2 Chron 33:15-16). • Discipline that ends in obedience bears lasting fruit (Hebrews 12:11). • Replace former disobedience with active service, worship, and integrity. Hold Fast to Hope and Restoration • 2 Chron 33:13 – God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem; “then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.” • Psalm 119:71 – “It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” • Every God-sent trial carries the promise of restoration, deeper knowledge of Him, and refined faith. |
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