walk. So…the next day, I…RESTED. And the day after that, and the day after that…even still, God has positioned me to rest. A ride I was supposed to have to the next country fell through, so currently I am stuck, if you can call it that, at a ministry house in Nelspruit that spoils me rotten. So I rest and wait. God has certainly been speaking about a lot of things during this time, and even the opportunities that resting has provided to minister to people in different ways and be ministered to have been amazing. Conversations I undoubtedly wouldn’t have had, moments I wouldn’t have normally stood still long enough to absorb. As painful as this injury has been, I’m thankful to serve a God that will use the pain we experience in this fallen world to draw us closer to Him and to each other. He didn’t cause this to happen to me…my own poor assumptions about what I could and should lift did that. But He has certainly used it for my good. (And, you will all be happy to know my back is greatly improving in this time of rest 🙂God never wastes our pain.
Why are we so afraid that God is not really out for our good? I hear all the time where people say that they are afraid to ask for patience because then God will answer that prayer by providing challenging situations that require patience. Well, if your patience needs refining, then by all means, bring on whatever will refine it! Even if it’s difficult, it’s worth it! Do we still believe that it really is worth it? The cost is nothing compared to the reward. Every time God lights that refining fire under us, brings up things in our hearts and our lives that need to be worked on, challenges to take it to the next level, stirs our hearts to ask Him for the hard things like patience…or righteousness…or compassion…or even rest; every time He does that, He does it because He deeply loves us and He wants to make us better, stronger, gentler…more like Him. Because He is good, and He wants to work all things out for our good. Do we really believe that I wonder?
If you look at real examples in our world of how you refine things, you will see God’s heart. For silver to be purified, a hot fire must be lit underneath it in 
order to bring the impurities to the surface. A knife can only be sharpened when the blade is rubbed against a rough surface. A muscle in our body is only strengthened if you put it against resistance and flex it. This truth is all around us. Its common sense until it hits us personally. But what if we embraced that reality? Instead of focusing on the struggle, can we see what’s being refined…can we help the process. Can you imagine someone who wanted desperately to be a champion athlete but would only go to the gym or to practice if dragged kicking and screaming? What are the odds of their success? I know this is sounding a lot like a sermon…but I’m preaching it to myself as well. We have to get this. We as Believers in Jesus Christ need to get this revelation of His goodness. He doesn’t rub us up against resistance in order to hurt us…it’s to help us. So what if it’s patience…or humility…or letting go of control…or even rest. They are all hard lessons, but they’re all good lessons. We need to embrace them, help God make it as painless as possible on us. Kicking and screaming and shutting down always make it harder…why do that to ourselves?
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us–they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Rom 5:3-5
