Man of God, why are things hard for me?”

“I don’t involve in fornication, neither do I lust after women. I don’t fiddle receipts when my boss sends me on errand, I don’t lie, I don’t defraud people, I don’t steal, I don’t fight, I’ve never killed. My colleagues mock me for being too holy, they say I’m suffering when I can be enjoying free money with them. Yet Pastor, things are hard for me?

“I practice contentment, I pay my tithe, I give to the poor, I support the less privileged, I promote the kingdom, I win lost souls and establish them in church, I’m sold out to God. Man of God, why are things hard for me?”

I totally understand how you feel, and I believe the entire Romans chapter 8 would help you understand your situation and also bring relief. In verse 18, the Apostle says “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

That scripture clearly states that God understands the sufferings we face for refusing to yield to fleshly desires. Who wouldn’t want to fiddle a company receipt just so he can get extra money in his pocket? Who wouldn’t want to have free sex? Who wouldn’t want to tell a lie just so he can be exempted from trouble? Our flesh suffer each time we refuse to do these things. Joseph was under serious torment when he was with Potiphar’s wife, that’s why he ran. Running was the only way he could deal with that fleshly desire. If anybody told you he didn’t get the urge to lay with her, that person lied.

If it was just a slave girl, maybe Joseph would have easily resisted and remained there, but definitely not Potiphar’s wife. It must have been every servant’s desire to have the back of the boss’s wife. So it wasn’t easy for Joseph, just as it’s not easy for any of us today. Putting your flesh under subjection is not easy, it’s suffering. But hey, we have hope. The same scripture says that the suffering is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us.

I don’t know how to explain this without making it too long, so let me just say something short and stop there:

There’s a reward that God has reserved for those who have successfully overcome the desires of the flesh, those who have completely yielded to the spirit. And that reward cannot be compared with the sufferings your flesh may be going through now.

The challenge is, that reward can only be revealed “in us”. It’s like trying to dig the ground in search of gold; your entire body will suffer for it until you get to the depth where the gold is.

So the more energy you put in, the closer you get to the gold. The more you master subjecting your flesh, the closer the revelation of your glory. This glory will become like your trade secret, it will be the reason why you prosper. It’s what Jesus had that made them marvel at the wisdom He was operating with. It’s what Daniel had that made him preferred above presidents and princes, it’s what Apostle Paul had that distinguished him among the apostles, it’s what Joseph had that made him relevant to Pharaoh, it’s what Solomon had that made him so prosperous. Unfortunately for Solomon, he lost it on the way.

It’s what Job had that made him the richest businessman in his time. It’s that same trade secret that made him enjoy the restoration he got. If you think he was restored just because he prayed for his friends, you must be joking. I’ve seen people raise prayer points like that, and it makes me laugh, honestly. Come on, the secret of God was upon Job’s tabernacle. So it’s not about praying for your friend, but about discovering the trade secret.

So my advice, instead of focusing on why things are hard, focus on finding joy as you maintain godliness. Joy is a proof of contentment, and godliness with contentment is great gain. The Apostle said we should count it all joy when we go through diverse temptations. If you still feel sorrow and pain over the temptations and sufferings of your flesh, then you’ve not mastered the art of subjecting your flesh. You have to keep pushing until it becomes a joyful thing for you to endure hardness. Let’s read how James really put it:

James 1:
2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Did you see that? God desires that we grow to a point where we want nothing that this world has to offer, a point where our affection would be set on things above and not things on earth. It’s at that point that we’d truly begin to walk in dominion in this world.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

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