From 1/6/2020
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10 NKJV
He tests, He holds, He heals
Many come to Jesus thinking that their new found faith will mean that everything will be great and comfortable and that there will be no problems. We have visions of unicorns and rainbows with total cushiness all about. There are even segments of Christianity that proclaim this.
Sadly, when there are issues there is a tendency to blame the person with the affliction as somehow less than godly or that they have sinned. Worse yet, curse God and ask Him why. We feel like He has failed us.
In truth, bad things are going to happen regardless of whether one is in Christ or not.
“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45 NKJV
Sometimes bad things happen. The difference is God walks the believer through the storm. Additionally, God has a purpose. Though we may never know why, God has a purpose for suffering in the saints.
Who we are is revealed in trials. When things are great and under control it is easy to portray a more positive and complementary version of ourselves. Pressure in the form of trial changes all that. Like a tube of toothpaste squeezed, what is inside comes out.
God tests us. He already knows who we are before we are even born. We humans walk about in denial about who we really are inside. In order to change, the innermost must brought into the open to give us a chance to see our true selves. We are either encouraged or convicted.
It all gets real under pressure!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
Testing hurts. In my own journey I have had much testing via health issues. Catastrophic diagnoses have altered my life. Each time the Lord has used these to reveal to me who I am. Each time I have surrendered the dross in my life, to the smelter of trial, He brings about a more refined me to the glory of God.
I have also beheld the relentless love of God. He holds me in the midst of the pain. From my rising in the morning to my lying down at night I know that He is good. I may not know the purpose of the pain, but I trust Him.
He heals.
When look back at trials I have had, I am amazed at what He has done. Sometimes I find myself taken back to a moment and the memory of the pain is vivid and present. I am reminded of how has healed me to the degree that it is a fading memory as I compare the now to the past. He is good.
If you are in a period of testing you can rest assured that He will hold you through it, and that He will heal you when it is over. Give your pain to Him and trust Him.

Musings from an idle mind 
I have a prayer of thanksgiving and praise for the Lord teaching GCR@Saylorville threw me on Tuesday night! Thank you so much for praying Bernie. Would you please pray as we prepare to host a GCR New Year’s Eve party this coming Friday night, tomorrow night? Would you pray for the unsaved tool be attending to be saved through the gospel message which goes out in our testimonies, and in our actions. Thank you so much brother!
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Romans 8:17-18 (ESV) 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
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Will do Bernie! Thank you so much for your faithfulness!!
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