Always be prepared

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15

We had spring revival meetings at church this week. The evangelist is very good...not to mention our fabulous adult choir! Sunday night his message was from 2 Corinthians 1:8-9:
8) For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9) indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;

He started naming some sayings that have been passed down over the years as if they came from the Bible. The last one he mentioned was "God will never put more on you than you can bear." He said you will not find that in the Bible. In verse eight Paul says they were burdened excessively, beyond their strength, despairing of life...but in verse nine he gives God's purpose in allowing hardships to come our way...in order that we should put our trust in God who, by the way, raises the dead!

He named a few things that would be considered hardships for some, a few of which I can relate. I can fully testify that, though, I would choose not to deal with these things in particular, they have driven me to put my trust in the only One who is capable...the reason for the hope that is in me.