by David Brenneman
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28-39.
Oh the things that seem to be "bad timing" that stuff of "why did that have to happen now?" is not outside of God's plans or His grace and mercy.
My Dear Reader read on again what the Apostle Paul wrote.
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
“For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, ” 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.
We who are in Christ are GOING to face both the big and small things in life that will be beyond our understanding as to why or why now. We won't understand until we get to the other side of this life and only when Jesus explains it to us.
That bad cold you had? Yes you missed work. Yes you used up some PTO time. Yes you felt miserable going through it.
But you don't see or know why God allowed it. I can't see why he's allowed me to go through this. I have a doctors appointment on Monday about something else and going into it will be cutting it close because of this.
But my Dear Reader...God allowed it.
He will still cause even this to work together for good for me because He loves me.
When the car breaks down, when we're facing something that delays us, whatever it is He has His reasons because He is in control and He is the all-wise, all-powerful, all-knowing One. Not you or I.
We shouldn't gripe at Him for allowing us facing adversity. All adversity is unpleasant in the moment but it always intended to bear the fruit of righteousness that God desires for us. Our adversity is there to cause us to learn to grow in Christ. Our adversity is NOT there because God is punishing us for something.
Scripture says that there is, therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So get THAT thought out of your mind.
Continue in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Even in your adversity.
As Dr. Stanley said, adversity will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish what He's doing in our lives. Not one second more.
Ask yourself if God's teaching you something in this to show you what it is so that you can glorify Him in it.
So nothing is separating you from His love because you're possibly miserable in your circumstances.
Just as yourself what He wants you to get out of it and then write it down to remember it for the next time.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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