Many believers are found in the plight of torments or are being tormented. The suffering is quite unbearable to many multitudes! The story of Lot who was a righteous man shows how he was tormented by the filthy lawless happenings around him (2Peter 2:7-8). How does one deal with the torments of his/her environment? A painful persuasion that has even led to many compromises in the name of “adjusting”.

Internally one would be tormented by the look of forgiveness! We basically require that we need to be forgiven when we have trespassed on others! Turning this vice versa, it can easily become a different story. Check the forgiven servant who could not forgive his debtors just as he has been forgiven (Matt 18:32-25). A lack of forgiveness is a massive torment for many of us.

Fear can also be a great torment of our souls and mindsets. The phobias which arise time and again need us to visit our confidence. We are to revise our perfect love that is in us (1John 4:18), which drives out all fear. Persecutors can also inflict fear in us (Heb11:32-25), yet we should believe that God is always on our side and that we will never be overcome by torments.

Other torments can be areas of weaknesses in our lives. The story of Paul gives great insights into how God has overcome our torments. He speaks of a “thorn in my flesh”, a messenger of Satan to torment him. After intensive prayers (3 times) God answers him and says, “My grace is sufficient for you”. In other words God makes us strong when we are weak (2Cor12:7-9). Therefore let us be glad and rejoice in hardship, pain and difficulties so that Christ’s power may rest on us. For when we are weak, then we are strong (2Cor 12:10).

Ray Legodi