ALL Things for Good
by Craig Manners
August 2008
Helpful things to ponder to alleviate pain and put things in a larger perspective:
All pain and sadness is passing away:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
All the sorrow, sadness, the pain, the heartache, the grieving and disappointment of this life is passing away (as with all other aspects of this life). One day it will be as if it all never happened. When we are with God, these things will no longer even be sad. Think about that! There will be nothing but rejoicing.
“For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Everything that happens to us in this life is temporary and either passing away or has already passed away. “For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Cor. 7:31). All that really remains is eternal life with God our Father through faith in Jesus Christ His Son. Nothing else is of real importance.
Therefore all we have to do is focus on our relationship with God. Seek first His Kingdom. Trust Him. Obey Him. Love Him, and love those He has put us in relationship with in this life, i.e. our family, our Christian friends, our neighbours (Matt. 22:37-40). Glorify Him with your life while you can (this is the reason He made us). Do what is right in His eyes. Abhor evil and all sinful behaviour.
God is in control:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). This verse reminds us that God is in full control of even the worst situations and will turn them around for the good of His people. It is best for us to trust Him, even in the dark. He will guide us through it. His everlasting arms will be underneath us. He will not let us endure more than we can bear.
When Jesus says in Matthew that we should "Turn the other cheek," when someone dishonors or offends or accuses us He is sort of reminding us that there is a much bigger picture than our small view of things. In a way we are to give up "self" and commit everything to Him. There is therefore absolutely no reason to defend ourselves especially from what almost always turns out to be petty offenses or slanders against us and which initially rile us but soon subside in importance. Leave them to God. Defend the poor and weak but don’t defend yourself. Go the extra mile. Show love instead. But most of all leave it with God. Revenge is His not ours. No matter what has happened to you leave it to His care. Even if someone meant if for evil. God really is in control of it not us. Definitely easier said that done, but worth keeping in mind and striving for.
ALL things for our good:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. We just need to focus on loving God and He will work all things for our good according to His purpose. He has a purpose for us. Why would we want to interfere with or struggle against that all-perfect purpose? We do not glorify Him by disagreeing with or rebelling against the way He is bringing about this purpose. It is most often during those testing, high pressure, boiling point trials that He refines Hs people. Trust Him and cooperate with Him. He knows what He is doing.
Do not fear. God Himself will comfort you:
“God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Ps 23:4
"The voice of weeping shall be no more heard." Isaiah 65:19
“The glorified weep no more, for all outward causes of grief are gone. There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander, are unknown there. No pain distresses, no thought of death or bereavement saddens. They weep no more, for they are perfectly sanctified. They weep no more, because all fear of change is past. They know that they are eternally secure. Sin is shut out, and they are shut in. They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed; they bask in a sun which shall never set; they drink of a river which shall never dry; they pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither. Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall not be exhausted, and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are for ever with the Lord. They weep no more, because every desire is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything which they have not in possession. Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination, hope, desire, will, all the faculties, are completely satisfied; and imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed. That same joyful rest remains for us. It may not be far distant.” C.H. Spurgeon.
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5).
"Our weeping night soon turns into joyous day. Brevity is the mark of mercy. The life and the joy which follow the weeping more than make amends for the salutary sorrow.
Weep not all through the night, but wipe thine eyes in anticipation of the morning. These tears are dews which mean us as much good as the sunbeams of the morrow. Tears clear the eyes for the sight of God in His grace and make the vision of His favor more precious. A night of sorrow supplies those shades of the pictures by which the highlights are brought out with distinctness. All is well.” C.H. Spurgeon.
"Underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27
God-the eternal God-is Himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet "underneath" thee "are everlasting arms." Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ's great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as "the uttermost"; and to the uttermost He saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are "the everlasting arms." He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the "everlasting arms"-they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan's efforts to harm him avail nothing.
This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the "everlasting arms"-arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for "the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary." C.H. Spurgeon.
God's people are not promised a life free from earthly trouble. This is a fallen world and we live in it. But God has promised to be with them through whatever earthly trouble comes. He has also promised brevity of trouble, as His people have eternity in store for them after this relatively short pilgrimage through our fallen world.
by Craig Manners
August 2008
Helpful things to ponder to alleviate pain and put things in a larger perspective:
All pain and sadness is passing away:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
All the sorrow, sadness, the pain, the heartache, the grieving and disappointment of this life is passing away (as with all other aspects of this life). One day it will be as if it all never happened. When we are with God, these things will no longer even be sad. Think about that! There will be nothing but rejoicing.
“For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Everything that happens to us in this life is temporary and either passing away or has already passed away. “For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Cor. 7:31). All that really remains is eternal life with God our Father through faith in Jesus Christ His Son. Nothing else is of real importance.
Therefore all we have to do is focus on our relationship with God. Seek first His Kingdom. Trust Him. Obey Him. Love Him, and love those He has put us in relationship with in this life, i.e. our family, our Christian friends, our neighbours (Matt. 22:37-40). Glorify Him with your life while you can (this is the reason He made us). Do what is right in His eyes. Abhor evil and all sinful behaviour.
God is in control:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). This verse reminds us that God is in full control of even the worst situations and will turn them around for the good of His people. It is best for us to trust Him, even in the dark. He will guide us through it. His everlasting arms will be underneath us. He will not let us endure more than we can bear.
When Jesus says in Matthew that we should "Turn the other cheek," when someone dishonors or offends or accuses us He is sort of reminding us that there is a much bigger picture than our small view of things. In a way we are to give up "self" and commit everything to Him. There is therefore absolutely no reason to defend ourselves especially from what almost always turns out to be petty offenses or slanders against us and which initially rile us but soon subside in importance. Leave them to God. Defend the poor and weak but don’t defend yourself. Go the extra mile. Show love instead. But most of all leave it with God. Revenge is His not ours. No matter what has happened to you leave it to His care. Even if someone meant if for evil. God really is in control of it not us. Definitely easier said that done, but worth keeping in mind and striving for.
ALL things for our good:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. We just need to focus on loving God and He will work all things for our good according to His purpose. He has a purpose for us. Why would we want to interfere with or struggle against that all-perfect purpose? We do not glorify Him by disagreeing with or rebelling against the way He is bringing about this purpose. It is most often during those testing, high pressure, boiling point trials that He refines Hs people. Trust Him and cooperate with Him. He knows what He is doing.
Do not fear. God Himself will comfort you:
“God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7). “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Ps 23:4
"The voice of weeping shall be no more heard." Isaiah 65:19
“The glorified weep no more, for all outward causes of grief are gone. There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander, are unknown there. No pain distresses, no thought of death or bereavement saddens. They weep no more, for they are perfectly sanctified. They weep no more, because all fear of change is past. They know that they are eternally secure. Sin is shut out, and they are shut in. They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed; they bask in a sun which shall never set; they drink of a river which shall never dry; they pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither. Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall not be exhausted, and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are for ever with the Lord. They weep no more, because every desire is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything which they have not in possession. Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination, hope, desire, will, all the faculties, are completely satisfied; and imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed. That same joyful rest remains for us. It may not be far distant.” C.H. Spurgeon.
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5).
"Our weeping night soon turns into joyous day. Brevity is the mark of mercy. The life and the joy which follow the weeping more than make amends for the salutary sorrow.
Weep not all through the night, but wipe thine eyes in anticipation of the morning. These tears are dews which mean us as much good as the sunbeams of the morrow. Tears clear the eyes for the sight of God in His grace and make the vision of His favor more precious. A night of sorrow supplies those shades of the pictures by which the highlights are brought out with distinctness. All is well.” C.H. Spurgeon.
"Underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27
God-the eternal God-is Himself our support at all times, and especially when we are sinking in deep trouble. There are seasons when the Christian sinks very low in humiliation. Under a deep sense of his great sinfulness, he is humbled before God till he scarcely knows how to pray, because he appears, in his own sight, so worthless. Well, child of God, remember that when thou art at thy worst and lowest, yet "underneath" thee "are everlasting arms." Sin may drag thee ever so low, but Christ's great atonement is still under all. You may have descended into the deeps, but you cannot have fallen so low as "the uttermost"; and to the uttermost He saves. Again, the Christian sometimes sinks very deeply in sore trial from without. Every earthly prop is cut away. What then? Still underneath him are "the everlasting arms." He cannot fall so deep in distress and affliction but what the covenant grace of an ever-faithful God will still encircle him. The Christian may be sinking under trouble from within through fierce conflict, but even then he cannot be brought so low as to be beyond the reach of the "everlasting arms"-they are underneath him; and, while thus sustained, all Satan's efforts to harm him avail nothing.
This assurance of support is a comfort to any weary but earnest worker in the service of God. It implies a promise of strength for each day, grace for each need, and power for each duty. And, further, when death comes, the promise shall still hold good. When we stand in the midst of Jordan, we shall be able to say with David, "I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." We shall descend into the grave, but we shall go no lower, for the eternal arms prevent our further fall. All through life, and at its close, we shall be upheld by the "everlasting arms"-arms that neither flag nor lose their strength, for "the everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary." C.H. Spurgeon.
God's people are not promised a life free from earthly trouble. This is a fallen world and we live in it. But God has promised to be with them through whatever earthly trouble comes. He has also promised brevity of trouble, as His people have eternity in store for them after this relatively short pilgrimage through our fallen world.