The last month or so has been tough, and last week was no exception. Certainly, on the economic front there was some relief, with the lowering of interest rates, but the Australian dollar continued to plumb new record low, and the price of food continued to climb.

Closer to home, since we, as a church, declared war on cancer there has been a growing number of the congregation falling sick! Several of those with long term illnesses have got worse, and many others have been hit with one problem or another. The number of those attending our special times of prayer has dropped dramatically.

At our Special Day of Prayer and Fasting last Friday, one of our folk was asking God about His plans for the future of St Mark's. She sensed that He spoke to her and said: "Close it down"! This shocked her deeply. It was not what she wanted to hear. But when she sought more information from God she realized that He was confronting her with a choice. She could accept all the problems and difficulties, all the negative indicators that the enemy was throwing at the Church, and the end result would be that the church would close. Or she could focus on, and respond to all the good things of God, and press on to His victory. Then, God said, He had great blessings that He would pour out.

Contrary to the expectations of some, and even to the teaching of some churches, the Christian life was never meant to be easy! Following Jesus is not a sure path to comfort and prosperity. In fact, it is often the very opposite! Jesus promised that those who followed Him would have trouble. The Apostle Paul taught his new converts that "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

At times, these hardships can bring us to the point of despair. The Scripture Union Bible Readings for last week included the account in Acts of Paul and his companions being caught in a terrible storm. Their boat was driven across the Mediterranean Sea for 14 days, and Dr Luke, who was with Paul, wrote: "we finally gave up hope of being saved".

But, they had left out one important factor. That was the sovereign purpose of God. Sometime earlier God had told Paul that he would go to Rome. No storm, however strong, could thwart the outworking of God's purpose. Paul had a visit from an angel during the night who reaffirmed God's purpose, and so he was able to encourage his companions. Not only would his life be spared, but God had graciously given him the lives of all who sailed with him. When we are in the place of obedience to God's will, not only are we secure, but there is a blessing that affects others around us.

On another occasion, Paul spoke of being again in a situation of despair. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians he refers to hardships he experienced in Asia. He says: "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death." This is far from what some would consider "Victorious Christian living". It may be outside of the experience of the majority of Christians. But, the testimony of Christians down through the ages is that it is normal for those who are serious about going on with God.

The key to understanding this is in the further comment Paul makes: "This happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead." When difficulties and problems arise we have a choice. Will we look to our own reserves or depend on God? Will we view the situation in terms of human possibility, or God's 'impossibility'?

At the heart of our faith, if it is truly Christian, is a belief in the resurrection. That is what we will be celebrating next weekend. The fact of the resurrection challenges the very core of the materialistic 'scientific’ view of life that we have been soaked in since childhood. As someone once said: "If the resurrection is possible, nothing is impossible."

As we encounter the problems and difficulties of life we have a choice , Will we look at them, will we judge them according to human standards, or will we view them in the light of the resurrection ? It does not matter whether it is problems of health, even cancer; or problems of relationship, broken families, shattered friendships etc., or disasters that come upon us like a storm. The fact of the resurrection throws new light on every fact of life. Even death, our last great enemy, is no longer a threat.

Problems are sure to arise, even problems that would threaten to overwhelm you. Will you rely on your own ability to cope, or on God who raises the dead? It’s your choice!