I have most
certainly notice how we may believe something to be true but not favour the
reality of that truth unfolding in our lives. I say that “God knows best” and
that He is in control of all things which is obviously an indisputable fact.
But as soon as my life pans out in what seems to be apparently an adverse
outcome I get my hackles up. I may have cultured the concealment of it rather
well, but I know my heart on the matter. The question of “why” begins to
dominant my thoughts all over again. I then begin to play my works out against
my rewards. O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of
death? I need to be freed from myself and the wars within. The consolation I
find whilst reasoning it all out, is that I am not alone on this score, as I
look around I see others fighting similar battles; the war within continually
rages.
Struggling and
suffering of all kinds is part of God’s design to help us understand the hope
which we have in Him, that one day we will be like our great Saviour. We will
not only be with God, in his presence, but we will be LIKE HIM. No more
struggles with the flesh, no more pity parties and so on. In my experience the
clearer we begin to see this reality as our actuality the tighter the screw on
the trials of life will tighten. The whole of creation was created to bring
Glory to God and reveal His character. Sin has interfered with that process, or
so it would seem, where in fact even sin will be used to the glory of God as it
drives people to Him in and through repentance because of its destructive
power. Even creation has been effected by sin. Look at a rose, filled with
aphids, or a dessert without vegetation, its all because of the effect of one
mans sin and His rebellion against God. However even in the chaos of it all,
God is in perfect control and this is what I find at times hard to comprehend.
When life is
running smoothly and all of its challenges are systematically slotting into
place without to much resistance, life is bearable and manageable. But when it
seems to capitulate towards hardship beyond the norm, this is when our faith is
severely tested and if we faithfully come out on the other side without doubt
dominating, God is glorified and His name is lifted up.
The sole
purpose of God’s creation is to bring glory to Him. If this is an obvious fact
why do I still struggle with the “no” answers to my prayers? Why is there this
constant war that always looks for a reason why something hasn’t panned out the
way I had hoped? Is my selfish ambition looking to dominate or not?
Introspection is something every Christian is summonsed to do. We must judge
ourselves so that we shall not be condemned with the world. It is important for
the Christians survival, but when that gets thwarted out of perspective, it
then can become unhealthy. Where do we draw the line? This is my struggle, back
and forth with these thoughts, over and over again. Always looking for some
formula to apply that may stick and have a positive outcome to my current
predicament.
The answer is
obvious even if my mind looks to overlook it at times and find something deeper
which is nothing more than humanism rearing its head. The answer is God first
and His righteousness and then the rest will follow according to His good
pleasure. With unpredictable tests alone the way which will examination our
faith. There will be times where we will nose-dive but the times that we find
the grace to thrust through it all, they will be sweet and will strengthen us
beyond understanding. We need to regularly trim our sails when it comes to the
trials of life and the reasons for them, if not we will soon find ourselves
groping in the dark and asking the question “WHY?” over and over again.
When I say God
is in control, hoping that I may find a favourable outcome concerning a deal
that I am hoping for and it doesn’t pan out as expected, this is when my battle
begins. Exonerate me Father as I try to force your hand. At the very core of my
heart I am hoping that you will intervene and act favourably and when it
doesn’t happen I am disappointed, forgive me! But I would also be lying if I
didn’t say that release is often a comforting emotion which releases tension.
Help me to rest
in you is my prayer and I also pray for all those who face similar struggles,
all honour and glory belongs to our God and to our King, praise the name of
Jesus Christ the Lord now and forever more, Amen!
There is a day
coming when the whole of creation longingly awaits its change, where sin will
no longer be consequential, and what I find amazing is that day will only ever
arrive when the saints are changed into the likeness of Christ. The universe in
its entirety, the seen and the unseen worlds of this universe waits for our
(the Christians) transformation before it will receive it conversion, Wow! We
serve an awesome God who is filled with unmeasurable mercies and we await an inheritance
that we have no actual idea of.
Our current
sufferings are a light affliction in comparisons to what will one day be ours
in Christ. Christian focus on the hope that is set before us and we will get
through another day and each and every other day that then follows. But we must
remember to continually “trim our sails” with the WORD of GOD.
Signing off
Tyrone
No comments:
Post a Comment