Most Of God’s People Are Contented To Be Saved From The Hell That Is Without;

…they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within.

Are you content to be saved from the hell that is without; but not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within?

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net. 

Before I became a Christian, I didn’t understand what it meant to be saved from hell. I knew I needed forgiveness but, I thought I had sinned too much to be forgiven by God. I had a lot of shame. But, once I understood the message of the cross I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Jesus came so that we could be saved from the hell that is without; and from the hell that is within. He can and does deliver us from inner torment and give us His peace instead. Some people experience immediate deliverance but, for me healing has come in layers almost like peeling an onion. Sometimes I have been reluctant to let go of the pain, but He patiently keeps working in me until I surrender it to Him.

Christians are content to be saved from the literal place of hell, but they may be less willing to be saved from the hell within.

Jesus spoke about the eternal state of the unsaved in Matthew 13:42 that says, “They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (NIV)

Hell is a real place just as heaven is and though our sins have caused us to fall short of God’s holy standard (Romans 3:23); all true Christians are saved from going to hell, because we believe that Jesus has taken the punishment we deserve (Romans 3:25).

Christians understand and agree with God that without Jesus we face an eternity in hell separated from God and all of His goodness. We have admitted that we need His forgiveness and have received God’s free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23).

Thankfully God loved us so much that He gave Jesus for us as John 3:16-17 says,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)

But, are we as anxious to be saved from the hell within?

Christians want to be saved from hell, but what about the hell within or the inner torment that we sometimes experience?

Jesus died so that we can also be saved from the hell within.

Maybe you struggle with bitterness, resentment, anger, worrying or other pain. These issues can keep us from receiving God’s peace. But, because we are loved and forgiven by God, we can confess our bitterness and forgive others. We can lay down our grudges at the foot of the cross.

We can pray for those who have hurt us and ask God to fill us with His love for them. We can confess our pain to Him and receive His wonderful peace.

• Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (ESV)

• Colossians 3:15 says, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” (NLT)

Maybe you want to be saved from habitual sins that seem so difficult to stop. We can be saved from giving into temptation as well.

But remember this—the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have faced exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 TLB)

God always provides a way of escape.

Or maybe the hell within that you’re suffering with is the pain of a broken heart or spirit.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (NLT)

We can turn to Jesus to be saved from discouragement and hopelessness. We can come to Him to be saved from the hell that is without and the hell that is within.

What do you need to be saved from today?

Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“Most of God’s people are contented to be saved from the hell that is without; they are not so anxious to be saved from the hell that is within.” –Robert Murray M’Cheyne | CLICK TO TWEET

For more FREE Inspirational Quote Cards you can use and share click HERE

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Why a Loving God Sends People to Hell

• Hungry for Heaven

• How Moving is Like Going to Heaven

• Six Reasons all Roads DON’T Lead to Heaven

• Podcast: What exactly is hell?

• Podcast: What God would send people to hell?

• Podcast: If I commit suicide, will I go to hell?

• Podcast: Since hell is real, what is a Christian’s mission?

• Podcast: Isn’t Christianity arrogant to claim to be the only way to heaven?

• Podcast: Since Jesus paid the price, is everyone heaven-bound?

• Forgiving is so Important It’s Scary!

• 5 Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Sometimes When Things Are Falling Apart,

…they may actually be falling into place.

Does it seem like everything is falling apart? I’m sure everyone has been through times of upheaval when the life we know seems to be falling apart. Change and difficulty are inevitable. But, sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Early in my nearly 30 year marriage, we experienced many trials and it seemed like life was always on the verge of falling apart. My husband would get hired for busy seasons in his accounting profession and then let go afterwards. This happened repeatedly. We struggled like this for nearly 7 years. It was extremely discouraging to us and demoralizing for him. This added a lot of stress to our marriage especially because at the time we had two very young children.

1995 was particularly difficult as my husband had been unemployed for six months. I was working full time and attending a local church and an evening Bible study. I didn’t miss an opportunity to ask for prayer. I am grateful that I had many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ praying relentlessly and fervently with me for a job for my husband. Then in December of that year, God answered our prayers and my husband was hired by a wonderful company that he still works for today!

This was not the first or last time that I’ve experienced trials where life seemed to be falling apart. There are seasons in life and change is a fact of life for everyone. There are mountain top experiences and valley’s that each person experiences.

We don’t have to fall apart when life seems to be falling apart.

Here are some steps to take when it seems like life is falling apart.

1. Seek the Lord and pray.

This may seem obvious, but sometimes when we face trials and life is falling apart, we may be tempted to pull away from God. But, we need to press into the Lord even more and seek Him in prayer. We may not feel like praying when we are suffering, but it is vitally important.

Now especially is not the time to retreat from God. But, take a prayer retreat and allow your trials to draw you closer to Him.

• Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” (NLT)

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

2. Hold on to God’s promises.

When we are going through trials and life seems to be falling apart we need the Word of God to give us hope. We need to use faith building Biblical promises and assurances; and remember that God is in control.

Things may just be falling into place when life is falling apart.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

God may not always answer our prayers the way we want, but we can know that He is good, and He promises to work all things for good for those who love Him and are called. God is for us!

1 Peter 5:10 says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”(ESV)

This verse reminds us that trials and suffering are temporary. It has given me so much hope on many occasions when it seemed like life was falling apart.

3. Join a community of believers.

It is extremely important when life is falling apart not to isolate. We may be discouraged, depressed or ashamed and want to hide away.

But, we need the Body of Christ, the church. We need to join a community of believers in a good Biblically based local church. We need the support and encouragement of other Christians.

We don’t have to go through tough times alone and we shouldn’t try to either. Real strength is admitting that we need others and help.

This quote says it well.

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” –Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Bible tells us that believers should support each other.

Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (NIV)

We need fellow sojourners in the Lord to get through those times when everything seems to be falling apart.

What do you do when life seems to be falling apart?

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

For more FREE Inspirational Quote Cards you can use and share click HERE | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 7 Ways to Pray When You are Suffering

• How Praising Unlocks Heaven on Earth

• So You Think You Can’t Take a Prayer Retreat?

• Unanswered Prayer is a Misnomer: God Always Answers

• Why You Need Protecting Prayer in 3 Realms and How to Do It

• Podcast: Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• 7 Christian Biblical Mantras I Find Helpful

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Afflictions Add To The Saints’ Glory.

The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles; the heavier the saints’ cross is, the heavier will be their crown.

How encouraging that God uses our afflictions! Uncut diamonds are not very attractive. In fact, they must be carefully cut and polished by an expert to display their finished glory and brilliance. In a similar way, God is using our afflictions to masterfully sculpt us into a multi-faceted gem that will sparkle to reveal His glory. He patiently and painstakingly cuts and polishes to reveal His beauty hidden within us. He will bless us if we endure patiently and we can look forward to eternal rewards.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net

I remember fairly early in my Christian faith, I was going through some afflictions and another Christian said, “God sure must have something wonderful in store for you.” Their statement changed my perspective on suffering because I understood that God would not allow pain without a purpose.

I can’t say I always have a great attitude about afflictions and suffering. But, recently God has been teaching me that I can use my afflictions to further the Gospel. Instead of becoming angry and bitter because of my afflictions; I can leverage them for the Kingdom. I can share the Gospel with others who don’t know Him but are going through similar challenges. Not that I enjoy afflictions and pain, but it’s becoming increasingly evident to me that we only have a short window of time to suffer well for Jesus.

Afflictions can be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. They can be caused by others or brought on by ourselves. Regardless of the source, they are painful, and no one enjoys pain. However, we can be encouraged in our suffering, because afflictions have redemptive value. God uses afflictions for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28), in a process called sanctification.

Sanctification is the life long process of growing in holiness and becoming more Christ-like as believers submit to the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

God may use challenging circumstances or people to achieve His goal of revealing more of His character in us; for example, to develop patience or compassion. These traits glorify God and allow us to better serve others as well. Remember the grain of sand within an oyster produces a pearl.

God doesn’t waste anything; including our afflictions.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)

Sometimes, it’s hard to remember in the moment that our afflictions are only temporary because they are difficult. But, when we consider how long eternity is and that our afflictions are preparing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all; it makes them seem light and momentary.

The Bible says that our present afflictions are not even worth comparing to the future glory that awaits us.  

• Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (NIV)

• 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (NIV)

If we submit to God, He will use our afflictions to make us shine. Just like diamonds are cut to sparkle and gold is heated to remove impurities, similarly, we are cut and refined to reflect His beauty.

Job 23:10 says, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” (NLT)

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”(Isaiah 48:10 NASB)

Some people refer to their afflictions as a “cross to bear,” but the cross we are to daily bear is one of self-denial and complete surrender to Jesus; even to death if necessary. We are denying what we want in deference to God’s will for us.

Luke 9:23 says, “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (NIV)

In some situations, the cross feels heavier than at other times, but the Bible says that God will bless and reward works; including our patient endurance. 

James 1:12 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (NLT)

If we love God, we will endure our afflictions with patience; because we know that He is faithful to only work for our good and He will give the “crown of life” to those who love him.

The tried Christian shall be a crowned one: and the crown he shall wear will be a crown of life. It will be life and bliss to him, and will last for ever. We only bear the cross for a while, but we shall wear the crown to eternity.” Matthew Henry

Are you going through a time of suffering and dealing with afflictions?

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Afflictions add to the saints’ glory. The more the diamond is cut, the more it sparkles; the heavier the saints’ cross is, the heavier will be their crown. Thomas Watson | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• How to Handle the Death of a Loved One

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• How to Grow Through a Season of Loss 

• How to Overcome the Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again

• Podcast Is it OK to be angry with God?

• Podcast Why Aren’t My Prayers Answered?

• 3 Trees That Explain Suffering (a series of 3 articles)

• Why is There so Much Pleasure in the World?

• My Classmate Bart Ehrman’s Hopeless Response to Suffering

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth