So this blog post is not going to be for the faint hearted.
For those of you that follow me on Facebook, you may have seen a few status’ that are declarations of hardships and future triumphs, and that’s because the season I’m going through right now dictates that I must make positive declarations of faith, or I would actually drown.
Last week, I sat on my bed and thought “why Lord, I don’t deserve this!?” and immediately, I felt a check in my system that I DO!
You see, as Christians, we are called to the partake in the fellowship of sufferings (Philippians 3:10) and unfortunately, that message is not preached enough. A lot of us are saved based on the wrong theology that when we come to Christ, everything will get easier, when scipturally we are not promised that. We are promised sufferings, but that the God of all comfort will see us through (2 Corinthians 1:3-6). We are promised that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us, He will protect us, and He will comfort us (Psalms 23). We are promised that trials will work in our favour and bring about perfection in us (James 1). We are promised that all things work together for our good, which is being conformed to his spirit.
Basically, we are promised that through trials, God will be gloried. So why am I saying I do deserve it? Because I deserve everything that God has planned for my life. God is sovereign and if he knows best for my life, then he knows how best to refine me to his image.
One of my favourite quotes ever is by Matthew Henry: Our lot is appointed for us; We have what pleases God, and let that please us also.
I also love verses like “The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths (Psalms 135:6).
We must get to the stage where we can take full comfort in the things we claim to believe, and I’m not just saying this because it’s the easy or Christian thing to say; I’m saying this because I am living hard times, but true comfort is only found in the truth of scripture.
I deserve everything that the Lord has appointed for me. Everything is an opportunity for his glory and for my refinement.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines 5
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread 10
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence 15
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower. 20
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
- William Cowper
Amen.