Wednesday, February 26, 2014

What Troubles

There is nothing wrong with being discouraged...if you don't mind denigrating God for the moment.  It is deceitful to say you trust the Lord and despair over your circumstance.  Faith is the hallmark of walking with Christ and to lack faith indicates a falling away.  The disciples got bent over their lack of bread and Christ did not condescend to their self-pitying.  He chided them for their lack of faith whenever they fell to whining.  Nothing unsettles the Christian's life in God more than the unwillingness to see the Lord in each and every circumstance whether we label it good or bad.  If all things work for good for those who love Him, then nothing works for bad.  It is a simple Venn diagram; even a mere child can see it.  If you must complain and feel sorry for yourself, then it is either that you have not tasted the goodness of the Lord or you have completely blinded yourself to your actual situation.  Even the stoning of Stephen worked for his good...just ask him now!  Can you imagine Stephen as he stood before the Sanhedrin shaking his fist at God as the first rocks began to fly?  You cannot because Stephen believed in God.  Do you face anything comparable to Stephen's circumstance?  Take your troubles before Job and whine to him about your trials.  Bring your hardship to Jeremiah and fuss over the difficulty of your task.  There is not a solitary trial you face that should make you cringe in worry and despair.  To be more than a conqueror is just foolishness for the pagan worrywart but it is the actual circumstance for the lowliest of Christians.  Grab your troubles and cast your fear to the wind.  Don't give in to the lustful dread of your end play.  It will work out for your good...not the good of some fantasy you have rolling around in your head of how things should be but it will come to a good conclusion in the Master's great mercy and care for how things are.  Reality never bites...it is the riches of Christ in store for you at every turn you take.

Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.  Genesis 24:50 NIV

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