Devoted to sharing the Word of God - in uplifting, informative and encouraging posts.
" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

Sunday 17 November 2019

Does Sad equal Bad?

(This has been in my drafts for a number of months as I’ve prayed and edited it. It’s longer than normal, and am sorry. 
After our weeks of fire, thought it was good to share.)
*****
When asked a question to which there was no answer our Bible college lecturer would reply “Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
These days when it comes to mind it’s often accompanied by Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
The key of course is “the called according to His purpose.”
*****
Perhaps some might be perplexed by the question with which my post begins?
Does Sad Equal Bad?
Older folk may not. Sorrow of heart, whether illness, loss of a dear one or someone once true now wandered away, loss of job or home, or some such calamity as often befell King David the Psalmist, it may indeed be bad.. but need not be sad in the end result.
When David was quietly keeping sheep, along came a bear or lion.. and he, a weak lad had faith in God, and slew lion and bear. 
By trial he was tested. 
When the big battle came, this testing stood him in good stead. He had faith to believe his God was able when it came to any battle big and small.
You may be facing a lion, a bear or a Goliath.. but the same God who aided a young shepherd lad is there with you in the midst of whatever dark valley you may be going through.
The battle is very wearying.
It may not end with a simple stone slung swiftly through the air of unbelief of those around this lad of faith. 
However long or short, however varied from the Biblical narrative you can be VERY sure of one thing. 
God has a higher, greater, more  holy and more glorifying purpose in the deep valley for you. 
He has you and I here  for a purpose - to glorify Him and to bring pleasure to Him.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
Created to bring pleasure... does our suffering bring God pleasure? Of course not, but the shining purified gold - by hard, sad things which you and I are purified. 
THAT brings God pleasure.
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

So let's not add to the stress of trials by a questioning “Why me?” spirit. 
“Why not me?” is what I've been shown I need to ask.
Most of my life I've suffered with multiple chronic conditions. The diagnosis given to my parents in my youth, said I'd have been dead 35 years ago. Close calls 5 times, one of these times I won't make it.
I fought long with God over this.
At 25 years old I awoke! Finally I praised God for this. 
All the anger, bitterness, resentment were swallowed up by praise. 
“I will praise thee; 
for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” 
Psalm 139:14
Image of iris, matches well this verse.
This condition limits me a lot but there's so very MUCH for which I'm  thankful. 
How richer, more glorious and deeper is my walk than if God had not done this!
*****
 We live in a fallen world. 
God has allowed the grief, pain, sorrows of this fallen world to glorify His name through His work in us. 
One wondrous day, in the perfection of heaven the understanding of these trials will be there. 
Till then, dear ones, let us clasp that Hand - so loving, kind and true of our Saviour and cling to Him as we walk through the dark valley. 
The mountain top is coming.

By its nature, in the fallen, sinful world:
sad = bad. 
But our God can take that sad thing and make it glorious. In 2016, I had acute appendicitis -> perforated appendix with peritonitonitis, handled by a medical team so confused by complexities of my condition that they delayed operating 30 hours!
Indeed THAT was sad and bad. 
Such deeps to almost the point of death, but how the Lord shone gloriously in my weak, semi-conscious state. 
Never alone. 
There was wrapped around my heart a place of total utter peace, no fear.
'Tis a gift of God for His beloved, that those who are not His can never know. 
The deeper the thick darkness of that valley of trial, the richer we are in our close fellowship with Him. 
JUST say I hadn't come through?
and the Lord had said, "Come home".
I would then have been even richer! 
Was God able to take care of those ones I'd left behind? Yes, the yearning, weeping prayers I'd prayed for them, as Daniel's, Jeremiah's prayers are still awaiting answers for Israel, so would mine have been lifted up by the Spirit till God's time to answer.
Hymn - My Hope is Built on Nothing less, than Jesus' blood and Righteousness.. link here.
May we look up with hope, for blessings will be be poured out from heaven.
It may not be what we want, or for which we have pleaded, but it is God's very best for us now - as we will see in the glories of heaven above.
"For here we have no continuing city but we seek one to come". Heb.13:14
So the simple conclusion:
Sad + Me = Sad is Bad
Sad + Me + God = Good
Behold God makes it very good!
Praying much for all who have suffered with the extensive fires here in Nth NSW.
May lost ones call upon the Lord, Who alone is their Help and Hope.
 May God have great mercy upon sinfilled Oz. We are never worthy of any of the least of His many mercies.
Praying on with fasting, as circumstances permit - for spiritual rain (a real soul stirring awakening  for eternity in this nation + others) and physical rain upon poor Oz.
May God have mercy as VERY much more of both is needed.  
May the Lord bless your day, I pray this  has blessed you.
Prayer hugs, πŸ™πŸ€—πŸ™πŸ€—
Shaz in Oz.x
PS for those who haven't seen or aware of them here's one of places (2 hours, Ebor Falls) devastated Fri 15th Nov by a deliberately lit fire. 
The two photos are 12 mths apart. 
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6 comments:

RitaR said...

Hello dear sister-in-Christ! Your messages are always so powerful because they are filled with God's Word and also come from someone who has experienced such a close walk with our Savior!

I especially was inspired by this portion of your message:

"When David was quietly keeping sheep, along came a bear or lion.. and he, a weak lad had faith in God, and slew lion and bear.
By trial he was tested.
When the big battle came, this testing stood him in good stead. He had faith to believe his God was able when it came to any battle big and small."

This is so true in my life .... I know that when the Lord answers my prayers regarding small and insignificant things (such as help to find a lost item or request for a good parking place), these are great faith-builders for me. I then know that He cares for everything that affects me and He will certainly be there for me when the major/serious events come into my life. That's why I bring ALL my needs before Him, even the trivial things because he constantly shows me that He wants to be involved in everything that concerns me and He answers even my trivial requests. What a faithful and loving Friend He is! This builds trust and relationship and gives me peace when the hard things come along in my life. I KNOW that He makes all things work together for my good!

I continue to pray along with you for the Lord's blessings on your nation. Prayer hugs!!

kiwimeskreations said...

Thank you sweet Shaz - this is so timely as I have had quite a few challenges this past week, health included. I will also be able to bless a friend by sharing it with her.
I was stunned to see just that one section of devastation... what an horrific thing to start a fire of that magnitude - I cannot understand it.
Blessings
Maxine

Conniecrafter said...

Isn't it true that we grow the most through our hardships not when everything is going smoothly. I am sure he looks down when we have finally realized where he wants us to go or what he wants us to do and is so happy. Just like we are when our children finally grow and learn from their experiences.
It is so sad to see the before and after pictures of the fire, but we can be comforted by knowing that God will revive that too and bring it back again to it's glory!!

Anne said...

Another great post dear Shaz, so encouraging and faith building. there isn't much I can add to what has already been commented on other than to thank you for lifting up the Word and teaching it so diligently. God bless you. xxx

Sunshine Country said...

Thank you so much for your comment recently on my blog - it is such a blessing and encouragement to have your prayers. I am finally back home after a nearly three month trip, but had a bad sickness for a week while away, and another relapse after getting home. Doing mostly better now, thank the Lord! Was sorry to hear in your last post that you hadn't been doing well. Have been praying for you also, and hope you are some better by now. It definitely is difficult to get to that yielded state of accepting trials such as health conditions or whatever it may be as from His hand, and to rest in Him to use it for our good, as I am still learning. And probably still will be continuing to learn throughout my life. :)

Sunshine Country said...

Had left a comment on this post also the other day...not sure if something happened that it didn't come through? Strangely it said "comment awaiting moderation" when I published it, while the other one on a different post published right away. Sorry if it lost the first comment! Had a lot more written. Was saying thank you so much for your recent comment on my blog - it is such a blessing to have your prayers. Have been keeping you in prayer also, and hope you are doing better by now! I had a bad time of sickness while I was away (am finally back home after about three months away from home), and a relapse after I got home. Thankful to the Lord that I am doing better now, though. Thank you for your posts on here - will hopefully be able to keep up better with commenting after this. :)