{"id":1506,"date":"2017-08-21T16:48:53","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T20:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/?p=1506"},"modified":"2018-10-16T16:33:18","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T20:33:18","slug":"embrace-the-trial-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pibcny.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/21\/embrace-the-trial-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Embrace the Trial \u2013 Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Understanding the \u201cWHO\u201d Question \u2013 \u201cEmbracing \u2018Who<\/em>\u2019 God is\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We are talking about the process of embracing our trials. In\u00a0part one<\/a>\u00a0we\u00a0discussed the \u201cpoem challenge<\/em>\u201d. In part 2<\/a> we sought to understand the \u201cWhy\u201d question and why it is the unproductive<\/em> question. We concluded that this question is often asked with a wrong perspective <\/strong>and theology<\/strong>. With this question, the focus is on the painful process<\/em> instead of the praiseworthy purpose<\/em>. The focus is on \u201cwhat I don\u2019t like\u201d instead of \u201cwhat God is<\/em> like\u201d and \u201cwhat God knows<\/em> is best.\u201d The focus is on my self<\/em> instead of on my God<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In considering this why<\/em> question\u2014\u201cwhy is this happening to me?\u201d\u2014my prayer is that we would learn to embrace God\u2019s answer to this question as we seek to understand the Biblical purpose for our suffering. My prayer, also, is to help us see that this natural question proves to be unproductive once we understand God\u2019s purpose and His Person. In part 2<\/em> we looked at the Biblical purpose for suffering, while here in part 3<\/em>, we will consider God\u2019s Person. My hope is to encourage us to understand our need to move beyond the \u201cwhy\u201d question and learn to start with the right first<\/em> question\u2014\u201cWho are You, Lord<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best is not the question \u2018Why?\u2019 but better yet, just \u2018Who?\u2019For when you see Me, Who I am, you will surrender too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first question you and I need to ask is, \u201cWho are You, Lord?\u201d <\/strong>This question invites us to get to KNOW Him through this difficult time. This is what God \u201cdelights in.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me<\/strong>, that I<\/strong> am the LORD<\/strong> which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I <\/strong>delight, saith the LORD<\/strong>\u201d (Jeremiah 9:24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and been so struck by the faithful response of one of your Biblical heroes that you simply take it for granted? You think, \u201cWell, that is just what Biblical heroes do, otherwise God wouldn\u2019t have chosen them?\u201d as if they have some quality about them that sets them apart on a higher level than we could ever achieve. 2 Corinthians 12 was one of those passages for me and Paul is one of those heroes. Paul writes about his prayer for God to remove his \u201cthorn in the flesh<\/em>\u201d because he saw it as a \u201cmessenger of Satan<\/em>\u201d which would hinder his ministry of exalting Christ. In verse 9 we see how Christ responds as He eloquently says \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd He<\/strong> said unto me, \u2018My<\/strong> grace is sufficient for thee: for My<\/strong> strength is made perfect in weakness\u2019. \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sufficiency of God\u2019s grace is an amazing reality. This is a stabilizing truth that when, in humility, we surrender to God\u2019s way, His grace truly is all we need for it is more than enough. Consider 2 Corinthians 9:8, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd God<\/strong> is<\/em> able to make ALL grace abound toward you; that ye, ALWAYS\u00a0having ALL sufficiency in ALL\u00a0things,<\/em> may abound to EVERY good work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But also notice how Paul responds to Christ\u2019s answer, from 2 Corinthians 12:9, when he says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ<\/strong> may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ\u2019s<\/strong> sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you see how Paul responds to this negative answer to his prayer? Instead of reacting in anger because he doesn\u2019t get his way, he rejoices. Let that sink in\u2014He rejoices! <\/strong>He responds, \u201cMost gladly will I therefore glory in my infirmities, \u2026 I take pleasure in infirmities, \u2026<\/em>\u201d. How can anyone in their right mind respond this way? The simple answer is that he understood God\u2019s providence and sovereignty in light of His goodness, love, righteousness, wisdom, power, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the old hymn, \u201cGod moves in a mysterious way,\u201d William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJudge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flow\u2019r<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often we judge the situation based upon our \u201cfeeble sense\u201d instead of judging based upon the truth of God\u2019s Person\u2014Who He is. We often operate on faulty theology<\/em> resulting in the wrong responses<\/em> to our trials. God desires that we see His love for us in the trial<\/strong> and respond in worship by embracing<\/em> the trial.<\/em> He orchestrates the very details of the trial not to destroy<\/em> us but in order to draw<\/em> us closer to Him. This is a truth we often need to be reminded of as we journey through these \u201cbitter\u201d times. Yes, the process usually is often a \u201cbitter taste\u201d but God purposes to bring about a \u201csweet\u201d and beautiful flower to His glory. In the aforementioned hymn, the writer states, \u201cbehind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.\u201d <\/em>The truth behind this statement is that the lovingkindness of God is often cloaked in painful grace<\/em>. But it\u2019s not until we know Him that we begin to understand this powerful truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that it is paramount for us to learn to rest in God\u2019s providence and sovereignty. In His providence, He orchestrates all things while, at times, God also allows things to happen to us. In His sovereignty, He controls all things. The amazing reality that I am learning to embrace, is that God is always both planning and directing the very details of my trial. The very minute details are not overlooked by Him. This gives me great confidence and peace, only when I know other truths about Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that we often have two very different responses to our trials, even knowing these attributes of God. On the one hand, we can become angry with Him when we realize that He controls the very details of our trial yet He still allows us to go through the pain and suffering. Our focus is, \u201cwhy me?\u201d On the other hand, God\u2019s providence and sovereignty bring great peace when we keep in mind that He is good<\/strong> in all He does. He is also loving<\/strong> and gracious<\/strong> as well as righteous<\/strong> in all things. He is all-wise<\/strong>, knowing all things as well as all-powerful<\/strong>, in that there is nothing that is too hard for Him. Because of a well-round Biblical understanding of God my soul can rest in Him. It is when I cherry-pick, slant in one way or another, or even forget key truths about God that I find my soul troubled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThou<\/strong> wilt keep him<\/em> in perfect peace, whose<\/em> mind is<\/em> stayed [fixed<\/em>] on Thee<\/strong>:<\/em> because he trusteth in Thee<\/strong>.\u201d (Isaiah 26:3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, when I fail to intentionally fix my mind upon these stabilizing truths, and focus upon the storm that I am engulfed in, I begin to sink and feel like I am drowning. This is similar to Peter in Matthew 14:28-31 when he walked on water and focused on the crisis<\/em> instead of Christ<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that any god that I put my trust in, short of the Biblically defined God, will be lacking in his ability to righteously and providentially rule over the very details of my trial.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, he would be incapable of being the source of rest and peace through the trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe still [relax in perfect trust<\/em>], and know that I <\/strong>am<\/em> God<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0 (Psalm 46:10a)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord<\/strong>, are changed into the same image [of Christ<\/em>] from glory to glory, even<\/em> as by the Spirit<\/strong> of the Lord<\/strong>.\u201d (2 Corinthians 3:18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more I am still<\/em> before Him, the more I will be changed<\/em> to be like Him, because I am taking time to behold<\/em> Him.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This was the apostle Paul\u2019s mindset. His consuming passion was…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat I may know Him<\/strong>, and the power of His<\/strong> resurrection, and the fellowship of His<\/strong> sufferings, being made conformable unto His<\/strong> death;\u201d (Philippians 3:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0He \u201ccounted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ<\/strong> Jesus<\/strong> [his] Lord<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (v. 8). This is how he could \u201ctake pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions for Christ\u2019s<\/strong> sake:<\/em>\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:10a). He understood that in these trials, Christ would be displayed through his weakness, \u201cfor when I am weak, then I am strong<\/em>\u201d (v. 10b).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had \u201clearned, in whatsoever state, therewith to be content<\/em>\u201d (Philippians 4:11), because He knew his God\u2014he was intimately acquainted with Who God is which allowed him to rest, with contentment, in any situation he found himself in. That is a powerful and stabilizing truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you consider the trial you are in, the difficulty you are facing, or the reality of future trials, can you rest because you know Who God is? Do you have God\u2019s kind of peace that \u201csurpasses all understanding<\/em>?\u201d I urge you to drink deeply from the fountain of God\u2019s Word. Get to know Him. Embrace<\/em><\/strong> Who He is<\/em> and embrace<\/em><\/strong> the trial<\/em> He has custom designed<\/em> for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, embrace the trial<\/strong>, My dear child, My best is what you\u2019ll see,Beyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n