Sorrow to Laughter

By O’Brien K. Awuah

In all this you will greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief to all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of-greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be probed genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (1Peter 1:6-7 NIV).
Have you ever found yourself in a tight corner, and you regretted being on earth? Have you ever been swallowed by a serious problem, and you wished you were dead?. Has any close relative or bosom friend ever disappointed you, and you became captive of depression?
You might have fallen victim to one of the above situations and life really seemed worthless to you. Brethren, none of these woeful situations is permanent. It may be a test planned by God to promote you in life or show His glory to your enemies. Or, a temptation planned by the devil.
Though suffering and chaos befall us, they can never quench that inner light of providence (ODonohue, 2008). Indeed, the struggles we embrace in our daily lives can never erode the glory of God on us. He has promised, and He will never fail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483607856

O’Brien K. Awuah

OBrien K. Awuah is a young dynamic Christian with a passion to influence peoples lives with the Word of God. He holds a degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong, Ashanti- Ghana and a product of Opoku Ware School, Kumasi, Ghana. Presently, he is at Bronx Community College, New York, USA. He has served the Childrens Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, Afrancho District (Ghana), and for the Central Assembly as well. He is now the assistant Youth Leader for The Church of Pentecost, Yonkers Assembly, U.S.A. His words of wisdom have tremendously impacted a lot of precious lives. He is the founder of Rural Health Aid Foundation-Ghana, aimed at assisting the aged and children with their health needs. This is an attempt to transform people from sorrow to laughter.

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Copyright © 2013 by O’Brien K. Awuah.

cover design by: Angel Rivera of Bronx, New York City, NY,

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ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4836-0784-9

                Ebook          978-1-4836-0785-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotations were taken from The King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), and New International Version (NIV)

Rev. date: 03/27/2013

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Table of Contents

About The Author

Introduction

Editor’s Introduction

Foreword

Comments

Appreciation

Dedication

Chapter One: Hatred for Joseph

Joseph In Egypt

Chapter Two: Baby Moses On River Nile

Chapter Three: Between The Red Sea And The Devil

A Way Of Escape (Exodus 14:16-31)

Chapter Four: The Misfortune of Hannah

Chapter Five: The Three Hebrew Youth in the Fiery Furnace

Chapter Six: Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Chapter Seven: Elisha, the Sons of the Prophets and the Lost Axe (It was borrowed!)

Chapter Eight: Despaired Peter, Without A Catch

Chapter Nine: Blind Bartimaeus

Chapter Ten: The Lame Man at the Beautiful Gate

Chapter Eleven: Bethesda, A Place of Refuge

Chapter Twelve: The Bleeding Woman

Chapter Thirteen: The Tribulations of the Disciples

About The Author

O ’BRIEN K. AWUAH is a young dynamic Christian with a passion to influence people’s lives with the Word of God. He holds a degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Education, Winneba, Mampong, Ashanti-Ghana and a product of Opoku Ware School, Kumasi, Ghana. Presently, he is at Bronx Community College, New York, USA.

He has served the Children’s Ministry of the Church of Pentecost, Afrancho District (Ghana), and for the Central Assembly as well. He is now the assistant Youth Leader for The Church of Pentecost, Yonkers Assembly, U.S.A. His words of wisdom have tremendously impacted a lot of precious lives. He is the founder of Rural Health Aid Foundation-Ghana, aimed at assisting the aged and children with their health needs. This is an attempt to transform people from sorrow to laughter.

Currently, he worships with the Church of Pentecost USA Inc.—Bronx Central, English, Yonkers, and Bethel assemblies.

Introduction

" (1 Peter 1:6-7 NIVUK).

T HIS BOOK IS written to strengthen the faith of Christians in times of tests and temptations. As we still live on earth and have not gone to heaven yet, tests and temptations will not pass us by. We must therefore stay on guard through prayer and be pregnant with the Word of God, for by these we shall always succeed. I chose the title SORROW TO LAUGHTER, because there is always sorrow at the bottom ladder of our difficulties, but laughter awaits us at the peak.

God, through our tests and temptations, refines our faith like silver and gold, and elevates us from glory to glory. God will never over-test us, and He will not let us be over-tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13). His mercies always abound when we suffer. He is by our side when all hope is lost and the world seems bitter for us.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, test is defined as, a critical examination or trial of a person’s qualities. Test is synonymous to trial. The end result of a test is success or promotion. That is why in schools, teachers conduct tests with the intent to promote students from one level to another. Therefore, God tests and He does not tempt. However, God may test us through Satan’s temptations. Thus, He permits Satan to tempt us while He tests us through that temptation. For, His intent is to declare His glory, and at the same time promote us. But Satan always has a negative mind. His intensions are always failure and eternal suffering. For instance, God tested Job’s faith to promote him, but Satan tempted him to destroy him forever, and also to cause him to renounce his God.

To "tempt is to entice or incite to do what is wrong or forbidden. The word temptation is the noun form of tempt. It is synonymous to tribulation. According to the PC Bible (A Bible software) V4, temptation is defined as, Solicitation to that which is evil". From the definitions above, it is clear that the result of temptation is negative or not pleasing. And who is the father of our temptations? Satan of course! He is the cause of our woes on earth. But glory be to God for His Son Jesus, who descended from heaven to die and has reconciled us back to God. He has paved the way for our redemption from the devil.

For you to understand the knowledge I want to impart into you, I have related tests and temptations to some heart-breaking moments some people went through in both the Old and the New Testaments. I believe your faith will be strengthened as you read this inspirational book.

God bless you.

Editor’s Introduction

Jerome P. Fleishman could not be more right! A little encouragement goes a long way in helping one who is going through an adversity to hang in there and not give up; and this book, Sorrow to Laughter answers that call. Has the enemy been bombarding you with one misfortune after another? Does it seem like your world has turned upside down and would never flip back into normalcy? Has sorrow become your food day in and day out? Does the path to your divine destiny seem crooked and full of mountains and valleys? If you answered yes to any of these questions, praise God for putting this book in your hand.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author, O’Brien K. Awuah, through his own life experiences, coupled with an illumination of the stories of devout men and women of the Bible such as Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Hannah, Peter, Blind Bartimaeus, The Woman with the issue of Blood and many more, encourages the reader to persist and persevere in his or her trials and tribulations; to press on and refuse to throw in the towel, for certainly, in due time, there shall be a turn around. As the Bible states,

will also teach you that trials are inevitable in this world and in the lives of all Christians. Jesus Christ, the author and Finisher of our Faith, who Himself is an encourager declares Moreover, this book underscores the fact that trials will not break you but will rather make you if you keep on keeping on. James 1:2-4 puts it succinctly thus . (NIV).

Dear reader, as you delve into this book, may the God of Heaven manifest His faithfulness in your life by strengthening your inner man in order for you to be able to hold up under the pressure and the heat of your trials and tribulations until your Sorrow turns to Laughter. God Bless You!!

Deaconess Dorothy Arthur

Secretary, National Women’s Ministry,

Church Of Pentecost, USA Inc.

Foreword

T RIALS, TEMPTATIONS, AND afflictions litter the pathway of the Believer in his journey through life. Many have wrecked their Christian faith and fallen victims to the storms of life because they lacked the knowledge, strength, and courage to stand firm in face of life’s adversities. This book presents an impactful, didactic narrative that provides the believer with the requisite tools to overcome during seasons of trials and affliction. The author draws insightful lessons from such classic examples in scripture such as Joseph, Moses, the Israelites, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego and others to portray God’s miraculous power and divine provision for his people in the midst of dire circumstances. He documents about Joseph’s slave status in Egypt, that His new destination was a transit point to his success. This definitely speaks to the situation of many Christians today.

This book will not only appeal to an adult generation, but it will greatly benefit today’s