Re-Posted from "Meditations of a Charismatic Calvinist Who Does Not Speak in Tongues"
"I just can't take this any more." Have you ever told God that? And
has it ever not gone away? I have been there, and God has brought me
through. But He did not take the problem away. Romans 8:28
unfortunately has become a cliche. Something that rolls off the tongue
of those who do not want to take the time to care. But it holds an
important truth: that while God is in control of our lives, His goal is
not to make us happy but to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans
8:29,30).
Now pressing this home to a person undergoing
great suffering may not be the best strategy. (I know you are
miserable now, but just think of how much better a person this is going
to make you.) But on sober reflection, this is a helpful perspective.
If we see the basic focus of our life as us and God as someone who is
there to make us happy, every problem and setback seems enormous. But
if we understand that we belong to Another (1 Corinthians 6:20; 2
Timothy 2:3,4) and our job is to carry out His purposes in this world
(Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6), then we will look at our
difficulties with a different set of eyes. This will not take the pain
away when we are in a position where we feel we cannot take it anymore.
But in the long run it will help us see our troubles as part of the
plan of the One who controls all things (Ephesians 1:11).
Marriage Happy, Marriage Holy
1 hour ago