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.)
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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.”

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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!
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 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, 🙏🤗🙏🤗

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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