“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people… (2 Chron. 7:13 NIV)

Often we don’t understand

It’s difficult to believe that God would send a catastrophic event among His people, but the above passage clearly says so. And often we don’t understand why. But God is God and we’re not, and He has good reasons that are above our limited understanding. We don’t know what God knows. Even so, He tells His people what they must do when it happens. One of the most quoted passages of Scripture is actually the rest of the above passage, which is often left off.

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

The answer is clearly given

Notice that the answer is directed to God’s own people: “my people, who are called by my name.” And they are clearly told what to do: “humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways.” Then God says, “If they do this, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Therefore

The above is an obvious message to God's own people. And “if” they do as He directs, He will answer in the positive way He said. On the other hand, if they do not do what He said, the answer may be quite the opposite.

“For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?” (1 Peter 3:10:13 NIV)

Quotes

“Revival is a renewed conviction of sin and repentance, followed by an intense desire to live in obedience to God. It is giving up one's will to God in deep humility.” - Charles Grandison Finney

“The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.” - George Washington

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 85:6 ESV) 

Bowing and kneeling have long been associated with worship and reverence. The Hebrew word for “worship” actually means “bow down.” 

No one but God must be worshipped. 

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me.” (Exo. 20:5 ESV)

“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 26:1 ESV)

“For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.” (Psalm 78:58 ESV) 

Every knee will bow before Jesus

“It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'” (Rom. 14:11 NIV) 

“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” (Psalm 5:7 ESV)

Therefore

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 ESV) 

“You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.” (Neh. 9:6 NASB)

Quote

“You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” - Jesus Christ (Luke 4:8 NKJV)

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
(Isa. 58:10 ESV)

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
(Prov. 11:25 ESV)

The two verses above express a powerful biblical principle; when you help others, you are helped, too!

A powerful turning point

A few years ago, my brother David came to live with us. He was very sick and extremely depressed, spending most of his time curled up in bed. During that time, our son John was volunteering with a ministry called Salt on the Street, where he handed out essential items to the homeless—on the streets and under bridges.

One day, as John was getting ready to head out, David happened to be nearby. John invited him to come along. David didn’t want to go, but I strongly encouraged him. He very reluctantly agreed.

When they returned later that day, I could hardly recognize David. His depression had completely lifted. He was genuinely happy he had gone. He had handed out socks and sandwiches to people in great need, many of whom thanked him personally. That experience became a turning point for David—and things only improved from there. Norman Vincent Peale explaned it well, “When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively. Somehow, the act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor.”

Help the Poor, the Weak, the Needy, Widows, and the Fatherless

As followers of Christ, helping others, especially those in need, is how we express God’s love to them.

Helping others is a command, not just a suggestion—every Christian must actively be about doing what God said, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” (Deut. 15:11 ESV)

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
(James 1:27 ESV)

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.”
(Isa. 1:17 ESV)

“And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’”
(Luke 3:10–11 ESV)

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 ESV)

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Roms. 15:1 ESV)

Warning

“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
(Prov. 21:13 ESV)

Therefore

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
(Gal. 6:2 ESV)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
(Prov. 19:17 ESV)

Quotes

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But… the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

“You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want in life.” — Zig Ziglar

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (James 2:19-20 NLT)

Different Kinds of Believing

The Bible states, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). While this is certainly true, there are different kinds and levels of believing. For instance, you can believe that God exists, but this belief alone is not enough to receive salvation. The passage above tells us that demons believe this fact, yet they tremble in terror. Believing with faith is more than just intellectual knowledge; it’s something you actively do.

Active, Not Passive, Belief

“Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”

• Declare with Your Mouth and Believe in Your Heart

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9 NIV).

• Good Deeds Follow Believing

In the passage above, action is expressed through the good deeds that follow one’s belief. “Faith without good deeds is useless” (James 2:20).

• Changed Heart with Actions

“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’” (Luke 19:8-9 NIV).

Warning: This Doesn’t Mean We Can Earn Our Salvation

Our belief and commitment to Jesus are reflected in the things we do. Our good deeds serve as evidence of our genuine and trusting faith.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Therefore

“Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14 NLT).

Quote

“Faith is something you do. It’s active, not passive. Real faith involves making a commitment to trust in Jesus.” – Rick Warren

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2 NLT)

Reacting Positively to Troubles

Someone once said that life isn't a bed of roses. But I believe it actually is—because roses come with thorns; life has beauty, but it also brings challenges and difficulties. To succeed in life, you must learn to deal with both the positive and negative vicissitudes, otherwise known as the ups and downs.

Troubles are inevitable

The verse at the top of the page begins with “when” you face troubles—not if, but when. This means that difficulties are inevitable. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” But how you respond is what truly matters. You may not be able to control when bad things happen, but you can always control your response. That choice is entirely yours.

An opportunity for great joy

James tells us to consider our troubles “an opportunity for great joy.” Unfortunately, most people don’t see their difficulties that way. Instead, they often react with frustration or despair. However, many successful people understand that solving problems is a key part of growth and achievement.

Problems, causes, and solutions

Problem-solving involves defining the problem, identifying its causes, exploring and prioritizing possible solutions, and then implementing a plan. Wise individuals face their problems head-on and work actively to find positive outcomes. In doing so, they learn, grow, improve, and make progress. After Jesus said that you will have troubles in this world, He said to “take heart” because He has “overcome the world.” And we, too, must respond positively to troubles when they appear and overcome them.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

See things from God’s perspective 

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17-18 NIV)

Therefore

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:15)

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.” (Psalm 107:103 ESV) 

“Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.” (Psalm 119:143 ESV)

“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:17-19)

Quotes

“We must never despair; our situation has been compromising before, and it has changed for the better; so I trust it will again. If difficulties arise, we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times.” - George Washington

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isa. 43:18-19)

God does a new thing

Writer and philosopher, George Santayana, said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." That’s true. It is good to learn from the past. But it is not good to dwell on it and get stuck there. God brings new beginnings, both for the present and for the future. As the passage at top says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

When joined to Christ the old is gone, the new has come

“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 GNTD)

God gives strength needed for the present and for the future

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:12-13 NIV)

Ask for a new and loyal spirit

Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.” (Psalm 51:10 GNT)

Therefore

“So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Heb. 12:1-2 GNT)

Quote

“Leave the broken, irreversible past in God's hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.” - Oswald Chambers

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Tim 3:1-5 ESV)

In the passage above, Jesus explained what the world would be like shortly before His return, and it’s undeniably happening exactly as He said!

The Bible lists many other last-days-signs, too. How many of them do you see?

More last-day signs

• Scoffers will follow sinful desires

“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:3-7 ESV)

• Lawlessness will be increased 

“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12 ESV)

• Like the days of Noah

“For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matt. 24:37 ESV)

• People will not endure sound teaching

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4 ESV)

• False prophets will lead many astray

“And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” (Matt. 24:11 ESV)

• Some will depart from the faith

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” (1 Tim. 4:1 ESV) 

• The gospel will be proclaimed throughout the world

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14 ESV)

Yes, Jesus return is imminent!

When you look at what’s going on in the world and compare it with the last-day signs mentioned throughout the Bible, you can see that we’re getting very close to Christ’s return.

Therefore

Even though only God knows when that exact day and hour will be, we must indeed be ready and anticipate His return.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matt. 24:36 ESV)

“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

“So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” (Matt. 24:33 ESV)

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt. 24:44 ESV)

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30 ESV)

Quotes

“What the situation will be like in the world before the Lord returns, namely, Christ will be despised, and the preachers of the Gospel will be regarded as fools.” – Martin Luther

“Precisely because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments.” – C.S. Lewis

“And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.” (Acts 3:5 ESV)

Living with expectation is a key aspect of the Christian life, marked by a hopeful anticipation of God's promises and His divine plan. This idea is deeply rooted in the Bible and is evident in the lives of biblical figures who demonstrated faith and trust in God's timing.

A future hope

The Bible encourages believers to maintain a sense of expectation as they look forward to God's promises being fulfilled. In the Old Testament, prophets spoke of a future hope, particularly the coming of the Messiah. For example, Isaiah 40:31 says, "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." This verse emphasizes the strength and perseverance gained from living with expectation.

Jesus is coming soon

In the New Testament, the theme of expectation is linked to the return of Jesus Christ. Believers are urged to anticipate His second coming. In Titus 2:13, Paul writes about "waiting for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." This expectation influences the Christian life, encouraging believers to live in holiness and readiness.

What are you expecting from the Lord?

• Expect rewards from the Lord

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 ESV)

“The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.” (Prov. 11:18 ESV)

• Expect a future and a hope from the Lord 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

• Expect goodness, protection and blessing from the Lord

“...How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world...”
(Psalm 31:19, NLT)

• Expect an inheritance from the Lord

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col. 3:23-24 ESV) 

• Expect to receive crowns from the Lord

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:4 ESV)

Therefore

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62:5 ESV)

Quote

“Positive expectations are the mark of the superior personality.” - Brian Tracy

“When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.” (Prov. 28:12 ESV)

I love the quote from R.A. Torrey, “The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came. Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.” This is so true! The following passage is a promise that says that God always leads us in triumph in Christ!

God always leads us in triumph in Christ

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Cor. 2:14 NASV)

In triumph he disarms rulers and authorities

“He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Col. 2:15 ESV)

Therefore

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57 ESV)

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph. 6:13 NIV)