My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. Hebrews 12:5
When the Lord disciplines you like that, let Him have His way with you. Allow Him to put you into a right-standing relationship before God.
So...I'm supposed to just sit there and take it? Yep...that's what the devotional says. That really is surrendering your rights. There's actually more to it then simpy sitting back and taking it. The scripture says that I'm not to be discouraged. I can think of another scripture that tells us to trust in Him, not to try to attach your own human understanding to your situation, and to also acknowledge Him in everything-even when life sucks (Proverbs 3:5). Everything the Lord plans for us has a purpose. I've got to keep believing that. I do believe that. In the thick of things though...it certainly is easy to say..."Why?" Heck! Even after things settle down a bit it's still easy to say, "Why?"
I know that we will not always understand things on this side of heaven. What is the purpose of life? Is it to have everything go right all the time? We make our plans, and then everything works out and we live happily ever after? If that was the case, what would ever convince us that we really need the Lord? The things in my life have often served to convince me that I need God.
- Mommy's best friend committing suicide. Having to shoulder that at age 5.
- Scary outbursts of anger that my brother exhibited when I was just a little girl. His drug abuse, alcoholism and rebellion affected us all.
- Feeling like I had to hide that from people.
- Two policemen knocking on the front door in 1983 to tell my family that my older brother was found dead in his apartment in Dallas, TX
- Being side-slammed by a mental illness in college and then consequently losing someone who had been my best friend.
- Suffering for years with anxiety that was crippling. Not knowing what my problem was.
- Getting married and then having one financial issue after another happen to us. It was like being in a choppy sea...trying to keep your head up.
- Not being able to find a job...
- Having someone suddenly tell you that your dad has only 3 months to live at most...and then see him die just 3 weeks later.
- Your mother having dementia. Trying to figure out with your siblings how to care for her and keep her safe. (Thank you my big sister! I'll be forever indebted to you and your selflessness)
- .....
Really? Is that it? That's all? I don't see a concentration camp listed here...or wrongful inprisonment! I don't think I've really had that rough of a life and I don't think this is a list of discipline from the Lord. What does that song say? Sometimes our blessings come through raindrops.
It's all part of the work being done on me.
Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me— sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24New International Version (NIV)
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
okay...bring it!
P.S. I know I have people who are reading this blog. Please comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
P.S. I know I have people who are reading this blog. Please comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I'm not sure selfless is a good description. Committed, perhaps. Or available, but hardly selfless. It was often a heavier load than I thought I could bear.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming back tomorrow morning to read this with clearer eyes and mind.
It was all part of God's work on you. He certainly has his ways of making us more open to His sanctification. We can't always feel his work because he works s-l-o-w-l-y.
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