In the last two devotionals, we saw six biblical helps for times of adversity. (If you need a refresher, then you should check out the last devotional).
So often, if we were to design the course of our lives, we would want to do things quite differently than what the Father has laid out for us. Yet, if we were endowed with perfect knowledge, if we were perfectly just and good, if we were steadfast in love, unchangingly perfect and immovable in nature, we too would see the great wisdom and forbearance of God. With unwavering patience He carries out His designs. Are they only good designs if we agree with them? Certainly not! Are they only good designs if we can understand the height and the depth of them for ourselves? Again, this is certainly not so. God’s plans are magnificent and great, regardless of what we think about them and regardless of whether we understand them or not. Flavel speaks along this vein:
7.) It may support thy heart, to consider that in these troubles God is performing that work in which thy soul would rejoice, if thou didst see the design of it. We are clouded with much ignorance, and are not able to discern how particular providences tend to the fulfillment of God’s designs; and therefore, like Israel in the wilderness, are often murmuring, because Providence leads us about in a howling desert, where we are exposed to difficulties; though then he led them, and is now leading us, by the right way to a city of habitations. If you could but see how God in his secret counsel has exactly laid the whole plan of your salvation, even to the smallest means and circumstances; could you but discern the admirable harmony of divine dispensations, their mutual relations, together with the general respect they all have to the last end; had you liberty to make your own choice, you would, of all conditions in the world, choose that in which you now are. Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry made of a thousand shreds, which, single, appear useless, but put together, they represent a beautiful history to the eye. As God does all things according to the counsel of his own will, of course this is ordained as the best method to effect your salvation. Such an one has a proud heart, so many humbling providences I appoint for him; such an one has an earthly heart, so many impoverishing providences for him. Did you but see this, I need say no more to support the most dejected heart.
We have often heard this verse from Paul, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9 HCSB). Yet, we do not often connect it with submission and yielding to God’s designs. Read that passage again. What can match that description other than all the good things of God? When you read that passage, you are reading the nature of God’s designs. It is to this same thing that Paul refers a few verses later when he said, “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:12-13). What else can possibly strengthen Paul towards contentment but what comes from God’s designs? And it is knowledge of these very designs that bring about contentment! When we meditate (meaning to chew on and think reflectively about) upon them, when we take the time to digest who and what God is, to recognize that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and praiseworthy, we also come to a knowledge of the beauty of God’s designs, for all those things come from God! So it is that Paul, whether in prosperity or poverty, ease or affliction, can be content in the Lord. So, meditate on the Lord, and you will see what sort of designs He is apt to make. God is to be the root and ground of our contentment, and nothing can escape from His hand. His designs never fail.
8.) It would much conduce to the settlement of your heart, to consider that by fretting and discontent you do yourself more injury than all your afflictions could do. Your own discontent is that which arms your troubles with a sting; you make your burden heavy by struggling under it. Did you but lie quietly under the hand of God, your condition would be much more easy than it is. “Impatience in the sick occasions severity in the physician.” This makes God afflict the more, as a father a stubborn child that receives not correction. Beside, it unfits the soul to pray over its troubles, or receive the sense of that good which God intends by them. Affliction is a pill, which, being wrapt up in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed; but discontent chews the pill, and so embitters the soul. God throws away some comfort which he saw would hurt you, and you will throw away your peace after it; he shoots an arrow which sticks in your clothes, and was never intended to hurt but only to drive you from sin, and you will thrust it deeper, to the piercing of your very heart, by despondency and discontent.
How many of us realize that we are so often the cause of our own suffering? By suffering I do not mean merely that we go through hardship (as we can learn, as Paul, to be content regardless of circumstances), but that, even regardless of circumstances, we cause ourselves much suffering through inward fretting and discontent for our current station in life. Yes, this is the worst sort of suffering! Picture yourself under the care of the great physician: God, the perfect surgeon of our hearts. Say that you are a child who does not understand His designs or procedure. Such a one who does not trust the surgeon will do all that he can to be anxious and resist his help. Perhaps you gash yourselves with His instruments. Perhaps you must be strapped down, and this too, you resist. Perhaps when his scalpel cuts, you cause more damage to yourself than would otherwise be. So are we who are not content wherever God has placed us. So are we who do not trust in God’s designs. When we come to recognize the terrible harm we do to ourselves by not being content in God’s designs, this ought to motivate us to submit to His loving hand, who with great skill is the only one who can make us well. What futility it is to resist His will! Therefore, love His designs and keep your hearts, for that is how we carefully submit to the good surgeon; then you will come to see the truth that all things are orchestrated for your good, even when difficult.
9.) If thy heart (like that of Rachel) still refuses to be comforted, then do one thing more: compare the condition thou art now in, and with which thou art so much dissatisfied, with the condition in which others are, and in which thou deservest to be. ‘Others are roaring in flames, howling under the scourge of vengeance; and among them I deserve to be. O my soul! is this hell? is my condition as bad as that of the damned? what would thousands now in hell give to exchange conditions with me!’ I have read (says an author) that when the Duke of Conde had voluntarily subjected himself to the inconveniences of poverty, he was one day observed and pitied by a lord of Italy, who from tenderness wished him to be more careful of his person. The good duke answered, “Sir, be not troubled, and think not that I suffer from want; for I send a harbinger before me, who makes ready my lodgings and takes care that I be royally entertained.” The lord asked him who was his harbinger? He answered, “The knowledge of myself, and the consideration of what I deserve for my sins, which is eternal torment; when with this knowledge I arrive at my lodging, however unprovided I find it, methinks it is much better than I deserve. Why doth the living man complain?” Thus the heart may be kept from desponding or repining under adversity.
The truth of Flavel’s word are powerful, because they reflect the true nature of our sinful condition without Christ. Who are we that God has chosen us for salvation? There was certainly not anything within me or within you that He would choose either of us for salvation. By grace alone are we even in such a condition as to ask that very question! And by asking we testify to the undeserved state of grace we find ourselves in, granted that we possess true salvation. Yes, the contrast is not between where we currently are and where we would desire to be, but between an eternity in hell and the abundant grace wherein we currently stand. So, by all means, desire more holiness and to grow in faith. If you must move or change for the sake of holiness, so be it (God would not will for a prostitute or someone living in sin to continue in that sin, but even this is different from the lusts for a different station in life); but do not desire to be somewhere else other than where you are. Reflect, rather, on where you deserve to be, and recognize that where you are now is according to God’s perfect designs. There is literally no better place that you can be. Paul taught this very thing:
[E]ach one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God’s commands does. Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called (1 Cor. 7:17-24 HCSB).
You deserve an eternity in hell, but now you have God’s great and immeasurable grace. The contrast can hardly be any greater. And this truth will help you in times of adversity.
Next time we will be looking at season 3: Zion’s troubles (trouble and hardship in the local church).