How?

“When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29)

How can I grieve, when comfort abounds within my breast?

How can I speak of turmoil, when God has given rest?

How can I think of weeping, or bitter, burning tears,

When all I know is worship unspoiled by doubts or fears?

How can I wear black garments of misery and woe,

When God by grace has clothed me in sparkling white, I know?

How can I fear for Satan, when God is on His throne?

How can I ever be lonely, when I’m not alone?

How can I mourn the passing of any earthly thing,

When Jesus Christ indwells me and makes my spirit sing?

Cornelius Vanderbreggen, Jr.

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He Is Trustworthy

Trust your Heavenly Father. In every situation, He is trustworthy. Even when you don’t understand, trust Him. As you grow in your knowledge of your Abba, you will learn to accept events as they unfold. He is the loving Sovereign over the details of your life and will perform on your behalf, and for His own glory, all the things He has planned for you. Even through your impatience with circumstances, He will bring you into a greater maturity.

He will accomplish His goals for your life. Your only responsibility is to trust in His goodness and His wisdom. The destination which you will reach is not your concern. Your role is to cling to Him as the journey unfolds. His role is to ensure that you reach His intended destination. Christians bring trouble upon ourselves when we confuse the two roles.

Relax, and enjoy your journey. Rest in His Sovereignty. Your life is an adventure, planned and performed by a supernatural God who adores you.

Steve McVey
Grace Walk

We Are Foolish and Weak

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Those who have vision [of seeing God’s true church as it really is] should spend their energies in being faithful to what the Lord has shown them – not in throwing stones at their brothers and sisters who have not yet seen what they have seen. I believe it would be better not to have a vision of the church at all, than to have this understanding but also be consumed by pride. We may think that we are better or more worthy than others – that we have some special abilities … but God has chosen the foolish and weak to shame the wise and the strong “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (I Corinthians 1:29).

The fact that God has shown you something is no argument at all that you are a superior human being. Quite the contrary, it may be proof that you are weak and foolish … Let us resolve not to be critical of our brothers and sisters, but rather in gentleness and humility to live in such a way that God may use us to increase His vision in others.

John Saunders
The House of God

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Boasting in Our Weaknesses

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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 (II Corinthians 12:9).

Weakness is not something that one should lament over or weep about. Weakness is something that one should boast in. You may have said, “Thank and praise the Lord because He has made me overcome,” but have you ever said, “Thank and praise the Lord because He has made me fail miserably”? You thank and praise the Lord for giving you patience, but have you thanked and praised Him for your impossible temper? Have you thanked and praised Him for your pride? Have you thanked and praised Him for your jealousy? Have you thanked and praised Him for your uncleanness within and for your sin? If you have these problems, you should thank and praise the Lord for them.

Why did Paul say, “I will rather boast in my weaknesses”? The word “boast” is “glory” in the original language. Paul said that he considered his weaknesses to be his glory. Paul said that he considered his weaknesses to be his glory. Only those with weaknesses can experience the tabernacling of Christ’s power.

Watchman Nee (1903-1972)
The Overcoming Life, pages 66-67
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The Joy and Honor of Suffering

Suffering for its own sake is to be avoided: it may be merely an exhibition of morbid and debased feelings. Suffering that comes upon us because of our own folly and misdeeds must be borne patiently and with penitence. But suffering that comes upon us because of the truth we hold and teach, should be a matter of rejoicing, not only for the honour put upon us to be counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of the Lord, but because there is associated with this present suffering the crown and the prize.

Charles H. Welch (1880-1967)
The Berean Expositor, Vol. XXXIII, 1945

The Value of Trials

It is well to remember that the deepest and truest spiritual qualities are not learnt or established in us by our happy or enjoyable times, but in the difficult ones! There is nothing wrong in times of great joy and spiritual blessing; in fact we long for more of them, and look back perhaps to some days of much blessing in our lives or in the work of the Lord; but in the securing of Christ in greater measure in our lives, we find that it is by the things which we suffer that we learn most. So let us give thanks for the joyful days, and learn all that the Lord intends by the days of waiting and difficulty.

 Why are the people of God suffering? That they may be conformed to the image of His Son. Of course, we may not need a world upheaval to do this, but God is going to use all conditions to that end …

T. Austin‑Sparks (1888-1971)
Cited by Miles J. Stanford in None But the Hungry Heart