No, I don't know Why

No, I don't know Why

by David Brenneman 

 "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." Psalms 94:19

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." John 14:1

Was reading in a devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah called Walking with God.  

"It may seem difficult to attribute compassion and mercy to a God who would allow one of His own to suffer so intensely.  But we must remember that the Lord's work in our lives has a purpose and that while we may feel defeated, we have the assurance that every adversity in our lives is sifted through God's hands."

"He knows the purpose of the heartache even before we feel the pain" 

"Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes because we need them." - John Newton. 

As Keith Whitley sang it, I'm no stranger to the rain.  

In reading the back story of the song, some say it's a song of perseverance, some say it's of hope and redemption.

Regardless of what we go through, Jesus has already been there.  He knows our beginning from our end. 

He knows what we need to become fully devoted followers of Christ. 

He knows what needs to stay and what needs to go.  

My heart aches right now in ways that I don't have words to express to anyone.  The loss of a recent friend has triggered sorrows of other friends who have gone on to be with Jesus. 

This particular loss complicates other aspects of my work life.  Without addressing these things it's sufficient to say the future, at least from my vantage point, looks even more grim.

Anxiety is knocking at the door. 

Sadness already invited itself in.

I look for God's provision in life as best that I can.  I know not what tomorrow holds but I know who holds my today and tomorrow in His hands. 

The Scriptures say that Jesus was a man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief.  

Think about all the people surrounding Jesus and He knew their hearts.  

None of us looks at adversity and gets pumped up about it.  We aren't likely to grab popcorn and a drink to celebrate a new level of adversity coming our way. 

Same goes for anxiety.  Paul gave us a grocery list of adversities that he lived through.  Add to it this mysterious ailment that was spiritually induced to afflict him.

His anxiety was constantly with him with regards to how the churches were doing.  

We're in really good company. 

I do pray for another kindred spirit as  Steve Baker was.  Another who has the same interests and love of Christ.  At my age, it's not exactly easy to find someone who's interested in 40 plus year old technology.  The commonality of having Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior will bring us back together either in leaving this world or the Rapture of the Church. 

I also have providing for my family on my mind.  It's part of most people's world. 

As someone once said...worry is a prayer with no direction.  So give it a direction...up.  Turn your worries into prayers.  Dozens if not hundreds of times a day if necessary.  

If Jesus allowed it...and we trust the Word of God in this...then there's a God-given purpose under Heaven for it in your life. 

Growing in Christ isn't to be something considered as optional. 

Growing in Christ requires a greater dependence upon Jesus rather than ourselves.  

Growing in Christ requires letting go and letting God be God. 

We are actually promised adversity.  

Did you know that?

"Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:10-12.

Our level of perseverance increases with each additional adversity. 

My heart may be aching but it's being held by my Savior.   I may be facing a very uncomfortable and uncertain future employment wise but He already knows what's in store and will never leave me nor forsake me. 

His promises are as real and alive today as they were when given originally. 

I look back at the Spiritual Memorial Stones of my heart.  I, like Paul, have a track record of great and mighty things that Jesus delivered me out of.  You have them too regardless of what you are going through right.  

Write them down.  Keep these always before you.  These are the promises kept by Jesus concerning you.

A life in Christ has no coincidences.  I like to refer to these as Godinstances.  Incidents where I see my Savior and Lord keeping His Word.  Incidents where He is there before I knew of the adversity. 

God's will for you and I in Christ Jesus is to make us more like Christ, not to give us everything we want.

Lastly...

"Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit;" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.

Be thankful that you see the work of God in your life.  I have been a Christian since 1974...and growing in Christ has been a part of my whole life.  Only recently have I began to understand and see what I have seen as my weaknesses being used by God, just as Paul was told.  His power is perfected in my weakness. 

That's where a perceived adversity isn't one at all.  It's Jesus working through you.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.