Looking Above
   As a people in the body of Messiah, who put their trust in Yahweh, we must rely on Him to see us through any difficulty we might naturally perceive as overwhelming or difficult, even to the point of anguish. Our perception of each situation, keeping in mind that Yahweh is not unaware, and that Yahshua being a capable Shepherd is on guard for us, can help us keep our sanity. (Sanity is identified with words like rational, stability and soundness of mind which relate to the Fruit of the Spirit of Yahweh.)
     We can help Yahweh’s Spirit by keeping our mind focused on Him and on good things He has provided for us. Putting our request before Him and trusting Him, will provide peace for us.
     Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to Elohim. And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yahshua. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the Elohim of peace will be with you, Philippians 4:6–9.
     The Apostle Paul is offering up his own example to be followed, as he himself followed the Messiah. If we compare what he went through with what we go through, we can say with confidence that we have it easier that he did. Since he overcame to the end with such difficulties (2 Cor. 11:23-29), it means we can, too. But he’s not the only example provided us in Scripture.

Suffering Job
   We sometimes wonder why we might be going through difficulties. We know we live in a fallen world, due to Adam and Eve’s sinning in the Garden of Eden. We now suffer with thorns, thistles, the sweat of our brow in making a living, and ultimately death at the end of our physical existence.
     Yes, Adam and Eve sinned, but Satan was there to prompt their sin. We find him later, causing Job problems. But if we are honest, we cannot compare what we go through with what Job went through. And he was blameless, fearing Elohim, and turning away from evil (Job 1:1).
     There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing Elohim and turning away from evil, Job 1:1.
     Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing Elohim and turning away from evil,” Job 1:7–8.
     We know the rest of the account, as he had great wealth and lost it all, including his family. And Job’s response?
     He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the Name of Yahweh.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame Elohim, Job 1:21–22.
     Blessed be the Name of Yahweh. Can we likewise declare this when going through difficulties? Can we compare our troubles with Job’s?
     Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” So Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.” Job 2:4–6.
     Have you ever had a day when just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did? Still, our troubles don’t compare with Job’s. This time boils were all over his body, and he scraped at them with broken pottery, sitting in the ashes of his mourning, his wife at his side.
     And, what was his response this time, even when prompted to forsake Yahweh?
     Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse Elohim and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from Elohim and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips, Job 2:9–10.
     As we read further the pain in his heart began to affect him and before his friends who came to “comfort” him, he cursed the day of his birth.
      Ultimately, Yahweh used Job’s experience to bring to us an understanding of how great He is, and how miniscule we are.
     Yet, Yahweh did not forsake Job, neither did He fail to show him mercy. After Job made intercessory prayer for his friends, we read,
     Yahweh restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and Yahweh increased all that Job had twofold. Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that Yahweh had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. Yahweh blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters, Job 42:10–13.

Joseph
   Another, who initially had trouble, was Joseph. The favor his father Jacob had shown toward him by making him a coat of many colors, and his dreams manifesting his family would bow down to him, povoked his brothers to be angry with him.
     Nevertheless, Joseph presented himself blameless, even after his brothers wanted to kill him, eventually selling him into slavery. Through it all, Yahweh blessed him.
     Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites (also known as Midianites, Genesis 37:36), who had taken him down there. Yahweh was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. Now his master saw that Yahweh was with him and how Yahweh caused all that he did to prosper in his hand, Genesis 39:1–3.
     Everything seemed to be going alright, but then his master’s wife sought to satisfy her lust with the young man. But Joseph refused her advances, recognizing it would be a great sin against Yahweh. We read of it here:
     It came about after these events that his master’s wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge. There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against Elohim?” Genesis 39:7–9.
     Talk about integrity. His was similar to Job’s – tested, but then blessed.
     AAnd He called for a famine upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They afflicted his feet with fetters, he himself was laid in irons; until the time that His Word came to pass, the Word of Yahweh tested him, Psalm 105:16–19.
     Thirteen years had passed from that time when his brothers had cast him into the pit at age 17, until at the age of 30 in which he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, and credited Yahweh,
     So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since Elohim has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt,” Genesis 41:39–44.
     After this, Joseph moved his extended family and provided for them, fulfilling his earlier dreams that his family should bow before him.
     Yahweh’s will worked out in our lives is not always readily understood. However, with the hope we have knowing Yahweh’s promises in Messiah, we are blessed above all peoples and look forward when everything will be made right. Not because we’ve seen it in a dream, but because we believe Yahweh and that what He has proclaimed through His Son will come to pass. Hence, the reason Yahshua has said, “let not your heart be troubled.”

Addition to Israel
   Joseph was blessed in another way, through the children he had, named Ephraim and Manasseh. Israel gave this prophecy about Joseph’s sons when he laid hands on them.
      But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. He blessed Joseph, and said, “The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth,” Genesis 48:14–16.
     Ephraim – a reference to the ten northern tribes – became dominant among the family of Israel (Ezek. 27:19).      As we know, Israel was dispersed among the nations by the Assyrians owing to their sins against Yahweh. Hence, the reason they were dispersed, but just like Job and Joseph, going through difficulties, in the end it will work out according to Yahweh’s promises to Abraham, through Isaac, and to all those accepting the Messiah, Yahshua Who is the way to Yahweh.
     Speaking of a future recovery in the Kingdom for a remnant of Israel, we read:
     I will plant her for Myself in the land; I will show My love to the one I called “Not My loved one.” I will say to those called “Not My people,” “You are My people”; and they will say, “You are my Elohim,” Hosea 2:23, NIV.
     Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; but you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your husband is your Maker, Whose Name is Yahweh of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the Elohim of all the earth. For Yahweh has called you, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” Says your Elohim. “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer, Isaiah 54:4–8. So much for the doctrine of dispensationalism that purports that the church is replacing Israel from the Covenants of Promise. Yahweh will keep His promises. He will have mercy.

Yahweh’s Mercy
   In the book of Lamentations, we read of one of the five poems, one for each of the Book’s five chapters. Thought to be written by Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, and faced with the destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of Judah into Babylonian captivity, he trusted Yahweh.
     Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Yahweh’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” Yahweh is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of Yahweh, Lamentations 3:19–26.
     A lot of times we want to express to everyone our pain and suffering, but often times we should just wait silently for resolution and relief, or alternatively, offer up in prayer to Yahweh what troubles us. There is a time and season for everything, even for us to bear one another’s burdens, confident that Yahshua will return to set everything aright.

Hope in Messiah
   Without question, we are here because Yahshua died for us and we are here by the mercy of Yahweh and hope in Messiah.
     Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of Elohim through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 1 Peter 1:3–6.
     Do we think ourselves protected by the power of Elohim? Yes, it’s true, believing under pressure is to prove our faith.
     So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:7–9.
     So, the outcome of our tested faith is the salvation of our souls through Yahshua the Messiah.
     Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of Elohim, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the Elohim of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Messiah, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you, 1 Peter 5:6–10.
     What we go through establishes, strengthens, and settles us, enabling us to endure to the end. In due time, we will be lifted up and be forever with the Messiah.
     But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to Elohim and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death, 1 Corinthians 15:23–26.
     Yahshua has risen from the dead, but not until He comes back will those who have died in Him be raised up with Him. They are first, then those who are alive in Him will be changed.
     For if we believe that Yahshua died and rose again, even so Elohim will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Yahshua. For this we say to you by the word of the Master, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Master, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Master Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of Elohim, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air, and so we shall always be with the Master. Therefore comfort one another with these words, 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18.
     These words are comforting. And I trust they will be comforting for any who are in need, mentally, physically, or spiritually.
     Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Master and of His Messiah; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before Elohim, fell on their faces and worshiped Elohim, saying, “We give You thanks, O Yahweh Elohim, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign, Revelation 11:15–17.

In Conclusion
   I can’t help but come back to my new favorite Scripture references, which is one of the best promises of all. After the 1000-year reign of Messiah in the physical Kingdom, and the Great White Throne Judgment, we read:
     And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true,” Revelation 21:3–5.
     Whatever we see going on in the world or what-ever is happening in our lives, or in some cases, what is happening to us, we have assurance through the Word of Yahweh and of the Messiah, that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.
     The promises found in Scripture can restructure our thinking to be more positive and less fatalistic in our thinking. Most assuredly, we can move forward without a troubled heart.
     Will we never have negative thoughts or emotions? Yes, we will, at least, in this life. But we are not living just for this life, are we? We are looking for what is coming. And for that, and for the Messiah, Who gives us the ability to enter into eternal life, by Yahweh’s great wisdom, we are most grateful.
     Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, the Father of mercies and Elohim of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by Elohim. For just as the sufferings of Messiah are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Messiah, 2 Corinthians 1:3–5.
     Praise Yahweh, through His precious Son, our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah.