Have you ever gone through something difficult, and felt as though you didn't deserve this? It was during the week of Easter 25 years ago that Ray and I went through one of the most difficult trials that we've ever faced..when we had gone to pick up his kids for the week of Easter vacation, and their house was empty, and they were gone. My heart goes out to people who have lost children, or people whose children have disappeared, or people who can't have children. I guess I feel to some degree that I understand their pain.
I was thinking about this verse yesterday, and I felt like the Lord quickened to me, that many ingredients go into the life of a child of God. If you were baking a cake, you would add all the ingredients needed, and probably in the order they were called for in the recipe.. Most of those ingredients in and of themselves wouldn't taste good..you definitely wouldn't want to try to eat a teaspoon of salt. That would taste awrful..or how about a raw egg? Ugh..but when you put them all together, you end up with the most wonderful tasting cake!
I think that the most difficult "ingredient" about suffering is time. A short sharp pain is endured fairly easily..but when sorrow drags on, day after day, even year after year, with it's same dull routine of hopelessness, the heart loses it's strength. It is because of the grace of God, that those who endure such losses, such trials, find strength. It is how we go on. Sometimes our trials seem endless, but if you are in such a trial today, I must tell you beloved, that God is not inactive concerning you. God often uses "time" to prepare His instruments and to mature our strength.
I remember at some point, in our trial, our time of waiting..that I began to know that this trial in my life was NOT going to have been for nothing! I began to feel HIS strength coming into my heart..and even though in the beginning, when I knew God was calling us into being used at the prisons, I didn't think I was "right" for the job, I KNEW that He was beginning to show me that even the most difficult things can have purpose, if we allow HIM to weave the threads of our lives into the beautiful picture that He wants to make. That verse says that ALL things work together for GOOD..did you all get that? ALL things..work together..for GOOD. If you are a child of God and you love Him, then you CAN trust Him. Beloved, I PROMISE you that I would NEVER try to minimize your pain, or the trial that you may be in. I know the trials that some of you are in..and I am praying for you. I love every one of you that this goes out to. I care what happens to you..but my purpose..is to let you know that God does too. My purpose is ALWAYS to point you back to Christ..and to encourage you..(to put courage in) that God has not forgotten you.
I was thinking a little more about that cake analogy. When you have added all of the ingredients together and stirred, you put the cake in the oven..and you BAKE it at 350 degrees for a certain length of time. What happens to that cake when it is in the oven is a COMPLETE transformation! There is CHANGE taking place! The cake goes in liquid. It comes out solid! The Bible says in Malachi 3:3 "HE (God) shall sit as a REFINER and purifier of silver":..in other words, God knows the specific amount of time needed in our lives for the refining process...and like a true refiner, He stops the fire the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal.
Today, we may not be able to see the final outcome of the beautiful plan that God has hidden "in the shadow of his hand". It may be concealed for a very long time. You may feel like you are in that oven and the heat is all around you. You may be screaming in your soul, for release..I hope that you will find comfort in knowing that God IS still seated on His throne in heaven, and He lovingly holds you..during every trial. He sees your suffering. He knows your pain.and He cares... if you are in a difficult situation, remember the cake.. When that cake comes out of the oven after a long time of being under the heat, and total change having taken place, the best part has been saved for last. The frosting goes on! This is an entirely new dimension added to something that has already been transformed.
Beloved, God promises in the above verse that when you are His child..when you love Him.. He is working in EVERY area of your life..and He is working for the good. You may not be able to see it now, but in time, you will. Don't steal tomorrow from God's hands. Give Him time to speak to you and to reveal His will. He is never late!
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