No Whining Allowed

Most of us realize just how much we are truly blessed; we appreciate every expression of God's love, His gracious mercy and unceasing watchfulness over us.

And...all is well. That's the way we like it, uh-huh, uh-huh!

But, as Thomas a Kempis once said, "You are courageous enough so long as nothing adverse comes your way." OUCH! Can I get a Band-Aid over here, please...I've been wounded. But, only because it's true, at least for me it is.

It's so easy to be pleased with God when everything is going well. But, just let the winds of adversity funnel down on us and we cry, "Why me?!"

I have learned that the answer to that selfish question is, "Why not?"
OUCH! Can I get a paramedic over here, please?! Why not, indeed!

Paul (the Apostle, not the Beatle) reminds us in his epistle to the Hebrews that there are those who have gone before us who suffered greatly for their faith, "...being tortured, cruelly mocked, suffered scourgings, bonds, and imprisionment---still others were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, and slain with the sword. They were rendered destitute, afflicted and tormented. (Hebrews 11:35-40) Paul proclaims that the world was not worthy of these dedicated men and women of faith (v 38).
He continues in Chapter 12 with the admonition that we, "consider Him [Christ] that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds (v3). Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin (v4).

Check and Check-Mate!

We have not suffered as our Savior suffered for us. Sin and separation from God held the nails in place, and as His precious blood trickled down that old rugged cross, draining the life from His physical body---something marvelous was happening in His Spirit.

As He whispered, "It is finished," and payment for our debt of unrighteousness was satisfied and accepted, the Love of God pulsed through those empty veins, and with a burst of divine energy, raised Him up, resurrected Him and He lives today, a victor over death and every other ungodly thing that can assault us in this life. Yes, sin held Him on the cross, but Love resurrected Him from the cold and dark grave.

Paul is absolutely truthful, even two-thousand years later; we have not suffered enough to complain, gripe, moan and belly-ache about our circumstances. I don't pretend to know everything. In fact, I can only share with you those things which I have learned in the trenches of life myself. And I know a couple of things that might be useful to others.

NUMBER ONE:

God is faithful---always was, always is, always will be!

In fact, He is so concerned that we realize this, that it is written, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing, I WILL BLESS THEE, and multiplying, I will multiply thee." (Hebrews 6:13-14)

Okay, okay...yes, He said He would bless ABRAHAM, but hold on! It just so happens that I know the rest of the story.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds Christians that, "If ye be Christ's then ARE YE ABRAHAM'S SEED, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE." (Galatians 3:29)


Check and Check-Mate.

So, here's what we have:
God's sworn oath that we will be continually blessed. Therefore, when adversity comes, and it surely will come, just hold on tight to the promise and remember that you have not yet suffered as those before us did.

NUMBER TWO:

The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.

You may recall that Job made this observation when he was at the lowest point of his life. But, don't take my word for it. Read the story yourself. (Job 1:6-22 and don't forget Job 42:10 and 12)

We are allowed to be sifted, but God still has the final word (1:12). He still draws the line that cannot be crossed. And I know about sifting. We all do.

But, here's what I've learned.

The Lord does indeed...GIVE. James, the brother of the Lord, says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness , neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

And Paul reminds us to, "...trust in the Living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." (I Timothy 6:17)

He does indeed...TAKE AWAY, as well.
He takes away our stress, saying:
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
He takes away our shame and guilt over past mistakes and sin.
"...He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea [of forgetfulness]. (Micah 7:19) How many of our sins will he cast away?  ALL of them!
He takes away uncertainty:
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)

Here it is in a nutshell. In our lives, there will be some tough times, but it isn't anything that we can't handle, because to added affliction, He giveth more grace, and out of His love and devotion toward us, He gives and gives and gives.  But, He also takes. He takes doubt, fear and unbelief whenever He can wrest it from our grasp. So, whatever seems to be about to consume you---relax your grip, let go, let God pour out His blessing.  And practice this unwritten commandment: Thou shalt not whine!

Instead, grab a pen and some paper and just try and scribble down EVERY blessing in your life; begin with your earliest recollections. If we were to do that we would need a lot of tablets...
"And there are also many other things that Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." (John 21:25 ~my favorite verse!)
He continues to do great things for us, every day of our lives. Look heavenward, be awed by His greatness, and give thanks with a grateful heart. You are blessed! Whether times are good or bad does not change that fact. And this present affliction (whatever it may be) will surely pass. So, in the meantime (and it often is a mean time) just focus on others and their difficulties: YOU CAN DO IT!
Job did it! "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as he had before." (42:10) And, "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..." (42:12)

Yes, you can do it, too!

"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can." ~John Wesley