As I shared in my last post, it’s been a very painful and grievous two years due to a thorn wedged into my flesh by Satan; but only by the good and wise permission of my sovereign God and Father—who is using this to conform me all the more into the image of His Son, Christ Jesus my Lord, my First and Greatest Love.
But before you take more pity on, or think more highly of me than you ought, I must confess: I am not entirely an innocent “victim”. I played a prominent role in the degree and depth of this pain. I made many foolish decisions, without prayer, that allowed Satan to twist and turn this thorn, further and further into my flesh—causing as much damage, and destroying as many relationships as possible.
For foolishly thinking I could handle this situation on my own (Prov 3:5-8), I repent…with much praise and thanksgiving to my compassionate, gracious, and merciful Father who is slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love. I give thanks for the gift of repentance—the ability to manifest godly sorrow, for it is a pleasant and rich gift, in and through the Son—allowing all God’s children to keep short accounts and unhindered intimacy with our Father (Ps 51:15-17).
Hallelujah!
There is no greater joy in this life or the next, than the joy of Jesus Christ—to freely obey the Father and glorify His holy name. And as a beloved daughter of the Most High God, I get to experience this awesome and heavenly joy, while still living here on this earth.
I get to live in the peace of God that transcends all understanding, because I know with the greatest surety, that my sovereign and good Father, hides me from the secret plots of the wicked who hate me. Hated, not because I have done them evil, but because my Father uses my love and devotion for Christ to expose their feign profession. But this is neither new nor isolated to me. It’s been happening since the beginning of time to all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Every person who falsely professes their love for God, or are prideful and envious saints in Christ, whom God has not gifted the same way in which He has gifted others, have and will continue to assault those they envy (e.g., Aaron and Miriam, Num 12:1-10; David’s older brothers, 1 Sam 17:28 and 1 Sam 18:8-9; Hananiah the false prophet, Jer 28:12-27; the Pharisees, Jn 8:42-47 and Mt 27:17-18).
I share these sorrows, these hardships, not to garner pity, but to encourage, comfort, and exhort and remind all of you, as much as the Lord enables me: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.
Our Father has promised us good in all things (2 Cor 4:16-18)…even the painful things. How awesome is His majestic power and love, that even what was meant to do us ill, is turned by the hand of God, to do us good? If our Father uses even the evil works of our enemy, to do us the highest good, that is, to conform us into the image of Christ; what wickedness can truly overcome and destroy a child of the Most High?
None.
Therefore, remember, no matter the size of the wave that threatens to encapsulate us, we who abide in Christ, will always be carried above the waves, or be made to breathe in the depths.
Here my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at them suddenly and without fear.
They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
But God shoots his arrow at them;
they are wounded suddenly.
They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.
Then all mankind fears;
they tell what God has brought about
and ponder what he has done.
Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!
~Psalm 64, ESV
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