As a human, we can often feel helpless and feel extreme sorrow in times of loss. In those times, many of us ask why me and if me, is there a God? Why does bad things happen to good people? The answer to this is that bad things happen to ALL people, even a person that's blameless and upright that fears God and shuns evil as was the case with Job. After tremendous loss and affliction he continued to trust in God although he could have felt like he had nothing left. He said that he accepted the good from God and would therefore accept the bad! What we should remember is that the good only comes from God and is our only way of acquiring the happiness we desire; God will restore and soothe those who overcome always.
Jesus Christ also endured hardship and similarly, we have an account of the tempting of Jesus in Mat 4:1-11:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Starting with the 1st temptation, the devil tried to take away Jesus' trust in his Father. Reading this account, we have the gift of hindsight and surely angels were coming. Further, if stones were allowed to be turned to be bread, there would have been no need to send the Israelites manna. Jesus utilized the moment and made it known that we need spiritual food. Additionally, the devil shouldn't command Jesus to do anything!
Jesus' response to the 2nd temptation seems as if it's a direct response but it generally makes clear that this type of temptation is an act against God. Man can be tested to see if they'll turn away from God in certain circumstances and the devil isn't beyond trickery! We're commanded not to murder and that includes ourself so we must be careful. After putting God to the test for a 2nd time while tempting Jesus, he told the devil what was written. The devil tried to quote scripture to trick Jesus but was ingeniously outwitted!
Jesus' response to the 3rd temptation is genius as well! Clearly not talking to a fool, the devil makes a grand offer which could have been a response to any of the three temptations. In the first two, the devil tries to tell Jesus rather than ask saying "tell these stones to become bread" and "throw yourself down." Jesus doesn't serve the devil and there's no kingdom on this earth worth giving up heaven! Jesus makes it clear that his request is another act against God and a condemnation against himself!
Through the devil's tempting of Jesus, we were taught important lessons about the devil such as the devil will attack when you're at your lowest; he'll use lies and trickery; and could even promise you the world (although he'd never deliver); And it's all in an effort to convince you to condemn yourself. In Jesus' life, he was able to see all the splendor of the world but wasn't deceived into thinking that's the way to save God's children.
Everyday we see that looks can be deceiving and while it may be very tempting to covet/envy, it can all be gone tomorrow; it many times wasn't really there at all as what we think is there doesn't always exist like the happy couple in pictures we come to find out were always miserable! I believe that we can all think of a person that one day was on top and then suddenly not only are they not on top anymore but were never happy!
The Word of God helps us to overcome all obstacles and teaches everyone how to be happy. There isn't any way to find happiness except Jesus as the things on this earth are all fleeting; In sorrow, that is the lesson to be learned. We start to ask ourself what is important? And not everyone finds the answer and that could be why some people never make it out of despair. Some people feel as if they had it all so they don't know where to start again. To everyone I would say let Jesus be your starting point. Once you make Jesus' priorities your priorities, your purpose begins to reveal itself. Jesus gave us a guide for how to live and it shouldn't shock anyone that it's how to live happily!
Wishing you continued blessings and please feel free to share or ask any questions.
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