Most recently, I visited with a girlfriend from my church. We saw each other at a graduation open house yesterday, and since both of us are "deep thinkers" our conversation went from clothes shopping to suffering...somehow!
She mentioned an insight that was reiterated to me in my devotional at work today (written in purple below): God gives us trials and temptations (aka: suffering) to make our flesh (inside and outside) die so that our soul will live and thrive more and more. She said that an injustice had been done to her recently and that God kept telling her to not defend herself and not assume her "rights." Instead, she said that God showed her that by giving up her "rights" she gave it to God and asked Him to be glorified in her. She added that the apostle Paul mentioned in one of his epistle letters that although his flesh dies every day that his soul is "renewed" daily.
This is a challenge to myself (and any who might read this) is that when a trial, temptation or suffering comes to me, I should not ask God to get rid of it or to whine and complain about it, but instead ask God to renew my soul and let his grace be enough for me.
Here is the quote from my work calendar for today:
2 Corinthians 1:12 "We conducted ourselves in the world...by the grace of God."
Alexander Maclaren, the distinguished British preacher of another generation, once wrote, "What disturbs us in this world is not trouble, but our opposition to trouble."
Put God to the test when troubles come. He won't let you down. In the midst of a painful illness Paul begged God to intervene and take it away. But God replied, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). It was for Paul, and it will be for you.
Thank you, God, for your all-suffient grace in Christ Jesus...
--by grace
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