I'm sure we're all familiar with the phrase, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." Years ago, when I had not been saved terribly long I remember one morning specifically praying for God to help me in an area I struggled. I had a horrible temper with a very short fuse (I still get angry from time to time, but truly with God's help, He's worked in me regarding that. He's not finished, but He's made improvements!) and I knew I needed help in that area. So, I prayed for God to give me patience. At the end of the day, after my pocketbook was stolen and I'd fallen down a flight of stairs, I decided praying for patience might not be the best approach to gaining victory in that area of my life! Feel free to laugh, because I can...now! You see, I'd not yet ran across the verse that says, "...tribulation worketh patience." (Romans 5:3 b)
I didn't yet know that God has a very different idea of how to give us something than what we might think. We live in a day of instant everything. I still struggle to set the clock on my microwave, but did you ever dream there would be a day when five year old's would own cell phones and people would consider it normal? (I do NOT consider it normal but that's another subject entirely!) Some things about technology are nice like communication with people far away, but one effect I've noticed is that it's brought about an attitude of, "I want what I want and I want it NOW!" I mean, really, I've seen people blow their horn in a fast food line because they waited longer than five minutes! We laugh about things like that, but I think it's carried over into how we view God.
We pray for certain things, and expect immediate results. "Lord give me patience, faith, grace, power..." Fill in the blank, whatever it is, we ask for it and then wonder why we aren't immediately endowed with what we asked for...and then we complain when a trial comes into our life. Yes, I said we. I've done it, I admit it. We fail to realize the very trial we complain about could be the method God wants to use to answer that prayer with.
We know tribulation "worketh patience" and also we find in the book of James that, "...the trying of your faith worketh patience."
You prayed for your faith to increase? Wonderful! Now here's a financial difficulty that you can't see your way out of. That's not what you prayed for, you say? Oh but it is! It will teach you to have faith in God to provide.
You prayed for a measure of God's grace? That's great! Now here's a chronic health condition. It doesn't seem like the answer you wanted, but grace comes when we endure thorns.
You prayed for God's power? Don't be surprised if it comes with a measure of persecution. I believe it was Dr. Curtis Hudson that said in regard to the book of Acts, "They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, then persecution came. They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, and persecution came. They prayed, the power fell..."
I say all of that in sincerity, by the way, because other than the persecution part, I've been in those places at one time or another and I must admit, at times I didn't handle the situations with...uh...the sweetest spirit!
I don't know what you're praying for, but over the years I've found myself praying God would make me more compassionate. I've asked Him over and over again to help me see people as He sees them; with faults, yes, but also with the potential to glorify Him. Should it then be any surprise to me that God has put in my path from time to time those who may need an extra dose of compassion? After all, if He has been compassionate to me in my brokenness or stubbornness, does He not require the same from me? He does say, "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48)
It's the valley we find the Lily. It's on thorns that roses bloom. It's in darkness we find treasures. It's in weakness we find strength. It's in simplicity that we find wisdom.
It's so opposite of what we humans would design....thankfully! His thoughts are not our thoughts, and it's a good thing too! If I'd never experienced deep heartache I would not value my blessings nearly so much. If I hadn't been wounded I'd not be nearly so appreciative of the healing. If it didn't rain from time to time I'd not appreciate the sunlight nearly as much.
I love to cross stitch (though my eyesight is poor and I rarely do it anymore) and from the bottom side of my needle work it looks pretty hopeless. The mingled threads don't make a lot of sense, and no clear picture can be seen. Yet on my side, I can see something beautiful emerging as I follow the pattern. God has a perfect will for our lives and sometimes we don't understand why things unfold as they do, but I have to remember, I'm not viewing it from God's perspective, and He sees a result I can't even comprehend.
In the Old Testament God is a potter molding, breaking, and remaking His people; conforming them to His desired image. In the New Testament He calls us vessels, His workmanship. He wants us to be clean, usable, functional, available. Sometimes the work He must do in us to bring those things about isn't pleasant, but when He's finished, if we yielded, we'll be vessels of honour.
Just remember that with a trial of thorns, blooms a rose of grace.
I didn't yet know that God has a very different idea of how to give us something than what we might think. We live in a day of instant everything. I still struggle to set the clock on my microwave, but did you ever dream there would be a day when five year old's would own cell phones and people would consider it normal? (I do NOT consider it normal but that's another subject entirely!) Some things about technology are nice like communication with people far away, but one effect I've noticed is that it's brought about an attitude of, "I want what I want and I want it NOW!" I mean, really, I've seen people blow their horn in a fast food line because they waited longer than five minutes! We laugh about things like that, but I think it's carried over into how we view God.
We pray for certain things, and expect immediate results. "Lord give me patience, faith, grace, power..." Fill in the blank, whatever it is, we ask for it and then wonder why we aren't immediately endowed with what we asked for...and then we complain when a trial comes into our life. Yes, I said we. I've done it, I admit it. We fail to realize the very trial we complain about could be the method God wants to use to answer that prayer with.
We know tribulation "worketh patience" and also we find in the book of James that, "...the trying of your faith worketh patience."
You prayed for your faith to increase? Wonderful! Now here's a financial difficulty that you can't see your way out of. That's not what you prayed for, you say? Oh but it is! It will teach you to have faith in God to provide.
You prayed for a measure of God's grace? That's great! Now here's a chronic health condition. It doesn't seem like the answer you wanted, but grace comes when we endure thorns.
Paul had a physical condition, a thorn in the FLESH that he begged earnestly for God to remove. God told him he'd have to bare the thorn, but it would come with extra grace.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. II Corinthians 12:9,10
You prayed for God's power? Don't be surprised if it comes with a measure of persecution. I believe it was Dr. Curtis Hudson that said in regard to the book of Acts, "They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, then persecution came. They prayed, the power fell, they preached, the people were converted, and persecution came. They prayed, the power fell..."
I say all of that in sincerity, by the way, because other than the persecution part, I've been in those places at one time or another and I must admit, at times I didn't handle the situations with...uh...the sweetest spirit!
I don't know what you're praying for, but over the years I've found myself praying God would make me more compassionate. I've asked Him over and over again to help me see people as He sees them; with faults, yes, but also with the potential to glorify Him. Should it then be any surprise to me that God has put in my path from time to time those who may need an extra dose of compassion? After all, if He has been compassionate to me in my brokenness or stubbornness, does He not require the same from me? He does say, "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (Luke 12:48)
It's the valley we find the Lily. It's on thorns that roses bloom. It's in darkness we find treasures. It's in weakness we find strength. It's in simplicity that we find wisdom.
It's so opposite of what we humans would design....thankfully! His thoughts are not our thoughts, and it's a good thing too! If I'd never experienced deep heartache I would not value my blessings nearly so much. If I hadn't been wounded I'd not be nearly so appreciative of the healing. If it didn't rain from time to time I'd not appreciate the sunlight nearly as much.
I love to cross stitch (though my eyesight is poor and I rarely do it anymore) and from the bottom side of my needle work it looks pretty hopeless. The mingled threads don't make a lot of sense, and no clear picture can be seen. Yet on my side, I can see something beautiful emerging as I follow the pattern. God has a perfect will for our lives and sometimes we don't understand why things unfold as they do, but I have to remember, I'm not viewing it from God's perspective, and He sees a result I can't even comprehend.
In the Old Testament God is a potter molding, breaking, and remaking His people; conforming them to His desired image. In the New Testament He calls us vessels, His workmanship. He wants us to be clean, usable, functional, available. Sometimes the work He must do in us to bring those things about isn't pleasant, but when He's finished, if we yielded, we'll be vessels of honour.
Just remember that with a trial of thorns, blooms a rose of grace.
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