by God's Little Boy
© MakeshiftDarkroom.com 2013
Posted 7/26/13

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

There are many things about our life and lot that do not make sense. The closer you are in relationship to God the more strange and unpredictable life seems to be. You can recognise the Christians with whom God is closely involved; they are the ones who have a latent question mark floating over their heads ( ? ). Deep in their hearts is the desperate question, "why must this be?" Heartaches, trials, disappointments, humiliation, necessities, and distresses can turn our world upsidedown. Yet, God can be trusted in all of it. God uses the dark difficulties and undesirable events in our life to do his great work in us. Romans 8:28 assures us that "all things work together for good to them that love God." We cannot see how these things could possibly result in good, but God promises that they will. We do not even understand ourselves or recognise our great need for sanctification. How much less do we know how God should specifically address those needs through the way he works in our life. The one who has all knowledge and perfect wisdom knows and he has a prepared plan to increase our faith exceedingly and conform us to his own image - the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

God, like no one else, knows what is best for us and gives us what we really need. He ordains our relationships - good and bad. He decides our calling and, more often than not, leads us in a way that we would never prefer, choose, or expect. He is like one who is producing and directing a grand play. He assigns us our parts and gives us our scripts and costumes. Many of us, upon reading our script and examining our costume, might ask God for another part, begging "please don't make me wear this." But God knows what he is doing. He has made us who we are and placed us where he wants us. As hard as it may be to understand, or to submit to what we do not understand, we may know that the scriptures declare that God can be trusted.

As time passes, the wisdom in God's plan for our lives becomes apparent. If you wait long enough you will begin to see it for yourself. You will understand why God opened and closed many of the doors involved in his plan for your life. For some things, however, we may have to wait for eternity to see. God is good and he can be trusted. Even though he uses things in our life that are not good we can be sure that they are being used in a way that will result in good. For the present time, we must not think that our trials are some strange thing that happens with no eternal purpose. (1 Peter 4:12) God is very much in control of and actively involved in every detail of our lives. We may have trouble believing this, but God's plan is better than ours.

God knows exactly where to "hit" us and no one escapes. No matter who we are we will be shaken by the sovereign hand so that the things that may be shaken may be removed. God knows how to apply his surgical skill right where we need it. After Job had glorified God in the first part of his trial (in not cursing God foolishly) God concluded that purpose in his trial which was to reveal Job's character before the angels. God then took Job deeper into the trial for the purpose of conforming Job into his own image. The first part of his trial was for God and the last part was for Job. At that point it became a family matter between a father and his son. He gave Job a trial that he could not "handle" - Job could not ace the trial. This part of the trial was not given to reveal his character, but that his character should increase. Job was pressed beyond his capacity to handle his affliction. It was no longer about Job's response to God, but what God was doing in Job. God knew that Job's response would be negative; he was not expecting Job to pass a test - and he did not have to. In a sense, it was OK that Job was negative and contended with God; for you see, fathers and sons often have heated discussions. This is a prerogative of son-ship. This great trial of his faith was sent that he might come to see God with the eye of exceeding faith. God made his beloved diamond to shine brighter; Job came forth from the fire as fine gold.

When God takes one of his own beyond their ability to act Christian in the heat of adversity, do not get involved in the way that Job's friends did (who were somewhat out of their league). An eagle, which is a lofty creature, must molt in a lowly place before it gets new feathers. Judge nothing before the time, for you do not know which way the wind blows. You do not know where the wind comes from or where it is going concerning the consecrated life of any one of God's servants. It may be that a work far deeper than can be seen is in progress. God can be trusted concerning our own life and also in the lives of others.

"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." (Job 42:5)

Back to Snapshots

Doctrinal Statement

A Safe Light in a Dark World.