Book 4 of Musings Have Faith To Accept the Good

It is as destructive to refuse to believe God is giving you something good as it is destructive to believe God will never permit you to suffer.

After years of the Christian discipleship we begin to wonder if our problems will ever cease. We must certainly be sons, for we are chastened all the day.

The Bible says that God delights in His servants. We just have to decide this is a fact and hold steady in faith. He who endure to the end shall be saved.

If we are not careful, we get to the place where we have a difficult time believing God would give us anything we enjoy. This is an occupational hazard facing those who experience the sufferings of Christ.

Perhaps it is a form of self-pity. Maybe we have become angry with God without realizing it and want to be spiteful. Or some other reason.

But when God is ready to give us something wonderful we do not have the faith to receive it. We simply cannot believe the blessing of the Lord enriches us and He adds no sorrow with it.

Just think about Joseph. He was in prison for quite a while, but he never became a prisoner in his heart. The moment Pharaoh called for him he was ready to become second only to Pharaoh in authority over the land of Egypt.

From a cell to the highest office in one day.

So it is with us. We haven't even begun to imagine the rewards that will be given to those who faithfully obey God throughout their dark hours on the earth.

Carrying our cross of self-denial shapes our character. I would imagine God will give us a period of time after we die to adjust to the fact that the load we have been carrying is no longer present.

But right now. Perhaps God has a treasure He wants to give you. Maybe it is something you have desired for a long time but have concluded you will never receive-at least not in the present world.

Keep your faith high. Maybe you have been deceived in the past and are very guarded. But keep your faith high. God has permitted you to be miserable for years perhaps. But your end is extraordinary joy if you remain faithful.

Numerous American Christians will have no idea what I am referring to. They do not know what it means to go for years with their most intense desires unsatisfied. God knows that if He gave them a heavy cross to bear they would turn away from God. They must have pleasure now or they won't play.

But to those whom the Lord has entrusted with many years of denial, I say, "Take heart. God wants to bring you to unsullied joy. Be ready for it. You may have been in God's prison for many years. Don't become a prisoner in your heart. When God is satisfied with the development of obedience in your personality, He will bring you forth into the sunlight. Just don't quit. Your day will come."

Don't turn away from the Lord, like a spoiled child, pout, and refuse what He is offering.

One time I had displeased the Lord. I had repented thoroughly and was prepared to take my medicine.

I saw the army of the Lord on the white war stallions. A stallion without a rider stopped in front of me.

I was saying to the men as they passed by, "Go on to victory in the Lord."

I was cheering them on as they passed by with their lances.

But there was this riderless horse standing before me.

I knew I was to get on that horse. But you know what? Self-pity was holding me back. "I am not worthy," I was moaning.

But I knew I was to get on that horse.

It was difficult to push through that self-pity, I can tell you. But I knew if that horse went on without me I would never be in the Lord's army.

So I threw off the self-pity and got on the stallion. The mental picture vanished.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalms 84:11)