Moments ago, I came across an old, old picture of my 1st son and I smiled as I saw his laughing face and remembered what the LORD showed me concerning Little Mac. Then I stopped to thank the LORD. That day GOD became more real to me, and HE continues to show me more and more of HIS excellence and wisdom. It began with deep, deep sorrow but GOD meant it and used the momentary affliction for eternal good.
As we began the book of James in class today we were confronted with the words, “COUNT it all joy when you fall into all kinds of struggles.”
Knowing that the word COUNT is an accounting term helps us understand what is really being said. It does not say FEEL all joy when hard things happen, what it says is COUNT it all joy.
Imagine a ledger one column is for the bad (money owed) and one side is good (assets held). The verse is saying, when hard things or troubles happen put it on the assets held side marked as good.
A well know biblical example of what GOD is doing behind the scenes when HE allows troubles to afflict us is when Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers no one knew what GOD was doing. It looked bad but it was the 1st step in getting Joseph ready for a high and glorious position that saved many alive. During the years in prison after being falsely accused it written that GOD’s word to Joseph (through the dreams HE had given Joseph) tried and tested and matured Joseph until the promise was fulfilled (Psalms 105:19). Many years later Joseph as 2nd in command over the world power of Egypt, told his brothers, “You meant it for evil, but GOD intended it for good to save many alive as is today” (Genesis 50:20).
In class we also looked at 2 Corinthians 2:17-18 “For (in comparison) our affliction is light and lasts but a moment, but it ACHIEVES for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory (reward). So don’t look at what is seen (the situation) but look at what is unseen (what GOD is achieving for us through the situation) for what we see is temporary but what is unseen (what is being achieved for us) will last forever.”
It is said of JESUS, “For the joy set before HIM (expectation of what HE was accomplishing) HE endured the cross though HE despised the shame and is (now) set down at the right hand of the throne of GOD.” Hebrews 12:2. For JESUS the joy of gaining forgiveness for us enabled HIM to endure.
One of the main takeaways of the Woman’s conference last weekend was the challenge to live out Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope (expectation of receiving what is promised), be patient in affliction, continuing instant in (ready to jump into) prayer”
Will you accept the challenge?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 