In All Things
I could not help but see The Promise of Romans 8:28 in the following passage  in Isaiah.
 My life, the last 9 years, hath caused me to lean hard on the promise that all things work together for our good. Yes, even the hardest things like death and suffering.
If we are to be victorious in this life we must not give into the temptation of grumbling and complaining, doubt and fear- shaking our fists at God in anger and despair. We must remember that we are at war and there is an evil enemy around the corner. No, we must not live on fear! To the contrary- we must walk wisely and humbly with our Commander- The Lord Jesus. We are in His Army if we are His. He has promised us victory! We know the outcome!  Rejoice then for our Saviour has won our victory!!
 But, we must remember that He told us this sobering truth –
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
So if trouble with a capital T has found you- remember that Your loving, good and powerful God will use it for good and has promised you victory!  Trust His words, though spoken many years ago, they will speak to your weary heart if you let them.
I choose Peace.  Jonathan
Grain is crushed, though one certainly does not thresh it forever. The wheel of one’s wagon rolls over it, but his horses do not crush it. (Isa 28:28)
Many of us cannot be used to become food for the world’s hunger until we are broken in Christ’s hands. “Bread corn is bruised.” Christ’s blessing ofttimes means sorrow, but even sorrow is not too great a price to pay for the privilege of touching other lives with benediction. The sweetest things in this world today have come to us through tears and pain.
—J. R. Miller
God has made me bread for His elect, and if it be needful that the bread must be ground in the teeth of the lion to feed His children, blessed be the name of the Lord.
—Ignatius
“We must burn out before we can give out. We cease to bless when we cease to bleed.”
“Poverty, hardship and misfortune have pressed many a life to moral heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulty challenges energy and perseverance. It calls into activity the strongest qualities of the soul. It was the weights on father’s old clock that kept it going. Many a head wind has been utilized to make port. God has appointed opposition as an incentive to faith and holy activity.
“The most illustrious characters of the Bible were bruised and threshed and ground into bread for the hungry. Abraham’s diploma styles him as ’the father of the faithful.’ That was because he stood at the head of his class in affliction and obedience.
“Jacob suffered severe threshings and grindings. Joseph was bruised and beaten and had to go through Potiphar’s kitchen and Egypt’s prison to get to his throne.
“David, hunted like a partridge on the mountain, bruised, weary and footsore, was ground into bread for a kingdom. Paul never could have been bread for Caesar’s household if he had not endured the bruising, whippings and stonings. He was ground into fine flour for the royal family.”
“Like combat, like victory. If for you He has appointed special trials, be assured that in His heart He has kept for you a special place. A soul sorely bruised is a soul elect.”
– from Streams In The Desert

Leave a Reply


View My Stats