Today, my devotion focused on 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Lord, I surrender everything to you.
Afterward, I asked myself–Can You Trust the Process?
There is no progress without process. God has a process in everything that He does for us. He takes us through a process, not because the process feels good. But, to manifest Himself through us. However, these light afflictions are temporary. The temporary process will eventually yield to the priceless gift we’ll gain.
What you are experiencing and going through right now; it doesn’t determine how your life will end up. Because your life is more than what’s happening to you at this very moment. Can you trust the process?
Don’t allow this experience to spoil your joy. How we feel should not dictate our mood each day. But, when you live a life of Christ, you will anxiously anticipate God’s peace to be with you each day.
Therefore, don’t allow the offense of something stupid, insensitive and inconsiderate to disrupt your entire day. Take each day as a win because greater and bigger experiences await you.
Remember, Don’t make the temporary permanent. You have to keep your perspective clear.
When God is trying to develop patience in you, guess how He does it? He puts you in a situation where you have to demonstrate patience. For example, He will send you to a government office, right? And, He’ll use that as a process to develop patience in you. Boy! I’m a witness.
During your time in that government office, you have to let patience have her perfect work…It’s a part of the process.
When challenging circumstances reveal our weaknesses, it can be tempting to despair. To help us battle discouragement—especially in the face of prolonged trials—Scripture teaches us to view our situations from God’s perspective. When we seek the Lord in prayer, He is faithful to His promises. He is able to work all things for His glory and our good. Amen?
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Joseph Was Challenged: But, God Was Faithful
Joseph suffered must despair at the hands of his brothers, but they prepared him for his destiny. Genesis 50:15:21: When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’
Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
The presence of God is the best place for us to process our pain and our disappointments. Sometimes, when our hearts are overwhelmed, all we need do is cry out to God and ask that in our desperation and fear, God places us on stable ground. David asked God for His comfort and safety during times of trouble. Psalm 61:2…From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
During times of being overwhelmed, we are accustomed to taking things to people first, rather than taking them to God. God has the answers we are searching for in the midst of our process. He knows exactly what we have need of.
John Newton’s quote reminds me of truth…”Everything is necessary that He sends. Nothing can be necessary that He withholds. If God withholds something from your life, you don’t need it and if God sends it. It is necessary.“
Are you thankful that God did not answer every crazy prayer in your lack of spiritual discernment and immaturity? Where would we all be?
Moreover, everything in your past has prepared you for your future. You have to trust the process and be more prepared now than you’ve ever been because your failures have taught you more than your successes. You had to fall–to learn how to stand.
Our weaknesses have allowed us to see God, the one who strengthens us. Even though we’re troubled, we can’t be distressed, perplexed and in despair. If we’re being persecuted, we’re not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed because we live a life in Jesus Christ that keeps us.
Suffering Is A Real Process
In conclusion, our problems have a way of never-ending: a painful marriage, distressful employment, ongoing health problems, disabilities, a difficult church, family problems, tragedies, reversals, etc.. However, Christ is greater than our sufferings. We have to trust God’s process.
God’s Perspective
Just like Paul, we need to see the bigger picture. There are two ways to see every problem; my way and God’s way. To be healthy, we need to see our troubles from God’s perspective. Suffering is not just about our pain. Suffering is about recognizing that when we keep the faith, our suffering becomes the means to demonstrate the reality of God within us.
Our sufferings are not by accident. It’s designed to manifest a life in Christ for our eternal gain. Then, we become living testimonies for others to witness the goodness of God in our lives.
Let Us Press On
We can murmur, complain, quit, and look for an easier life; but if we’re going to follow Christ, then Paul’s words are relevant. His words tell us we will have many problems, but Christ is greater than our sufferings, and our faith while in our sufferings, will manifest the power of His life in us.
God will use our problems and our sufferings to magnify who He is in us. So, press on. Keep your faith intact. The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14. The day will come when Jesus Christ will wipe every tear from your eyes.
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