All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28
I was working on our sink in the house yesterday. Good ole nasty under the sink in close quarters honey do stuff… my wife asked me to replace the dripping leak of our faucet. So of course this led to replacing the whole drain system! We were fasting and prayer too so this made all matters try to compound. Amazingly God's grace and patience was resting upon me as my sons and I worked with diligence to rebuild our sink. I used a screwdriver to chisel the old part off the old cast iron sink which was the wrong tool for the job… sounds like another good topic. Anyway the last bump broke the part off but everything slipped and my left hand ground into the jagged metal edge gouging chunks of meat off my left ring and pinkie finger. Oh it hurt… as blood flew and I broke out in a cold sweat grabbing my hand in a yelp of PAIN!
I got my composure after some first aid and cold water. We got the sink finished but I knew a couple of sore days were before me. I got up this AM to read and today's devotion was so on time I thought I would post this topic as I meditated on God's goodness and mercy in my life and thought of people I know that have endured PAIN…
This is the story of PAIN copied from Our Daily Bread found on the Radio Bible Class website…
I'll never forget when our youngest child Matthew fell and broke his wrist. It was grotesque! His arm took a sharp left turn at his wrist and then turned again to resume its normal journey to his hand.
We rushed him to the hospital where the doctor began to set his wrist. I watched as the physician pulled and twisted Matthew's arm. I wanted to jump up and pull him away from my son! But I simply sat and watched, knowing that the agony was necessary to make Matt whole again.
If we trust earthly doctors to do that for our children, how much more we should be willing to trust God, the Great Physician, to reset our broken lives "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). One of God's purposes in pain is to brand the image of Jesus in our hearts. Can we weep with those who weep? God may need to stain our cheeks with our own tears so that we can genuinely empathize with others as Jesus did. Are we self-sufficient? God may need to strip away our security to conform us to the God-sufficiency that Christ displayed. Are we faithless? It may require a tragedy to teach us to trust the Father as Jesus did.
Next time you feel broken, don't panic—praise Him! God is at work!
Life's fractures can be mended
By faith in Christ the Lord—
At first the pain but then the gain
And usefulness restored. —Hess
God's purpose in pain is to brand His image in our hearts.
3 comments:
Read your post on "Pain" and right off the bat I saw a soitism. You know "so it is in the world - so it is with God". Working for a large company a big focus here is on safety. My first thought was, where were your gloves, did you have the right tool for the job, did you think the job process through to completion? Then came the soitism. If we go throgh life with the attitude I know what I'm doing, I don't really need to bother God with this situation in my life or my walk it can have devistating results. We end up using the wrong tool for the job (our intelect or know how, or money) instead of the right tool for the job (Holy Ghost power, prayer, God's grace and mercy, humility). Next thing you know we're on a wrong path because we forgot or overlooked those things God taught us. "Bubba" I'm telling you this and I know you'll see what I'm talking about cause I know where you used to work. Love ya man. Got to go.
Love God, Hate Sin, Serve the Lord, God Bless
Brother Doty
Once heard a great talk from Elisabeth Elliot called, "The Gift of Suffering-The Severe Mercies of God." Oh the paradox of those words! But how I love knowing that my pain is not-so-gentle reminder of the Savior's pain and suffering for my wretched, messed up life. As for your wound, nothing a little gumbo won't fix...oops, sorry, forgot you were fasting. Peace and love to our dear friends!
Umm this is SO TIMELY... pretty much 2 Friday's ago I had a huge biking accident... flew off the front of my bike cruising down this MASSIVE hill... yeah, needless to say I am going to the doc again today... this accident has OPENED my eyes to a large awakening in my heart... Luke, GOd is teaching me SO MUCH... next step? Brilliant question, I have been asked by the leaders of GoGLobal the same thing along with Ben and Dan and others, I am starting to pray and fast... HE knows. I love Africa but I know He has put India in my heart, I am just seeking... he will SHOW up! Much love to you all back home!!!
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