Why do some of us have more suffering
than other Christians? Because Jesus has selected us for yet-more growth in faith/Jesus-dependency. Suffering produces perseverance, then character, then hope/faith/dependency. Suffering is anything that's harrrrd -- that which our human-wisdom and the human-wisdom of those who love us, deem bad, to be avoided at all costs. Those who love us want EASY for us. Jesus doesn't always give us what our human-wisdom wants -- He gives us what's BEST for us, but our human-wisdom thinks IT knows what's best -- for us, for others. Being retrained in Jesus-dependency is emotionally painful and sometimes physically painful too, but it's good painful, because it comes from the hand of a loving SovereignShepherd who knows BEST what His sheep need. The more Jesus-dependency, the less circumstance-dependent we are for our joy and peace. And the more contented we are. And patient. And more contagious/fruitful with seculars.
Unusual growth in Jesus-dependency doesn't make any of us BETTER than other Christians, but our human-wisdom wants us to THINK we're better. Nobody but Jesus gets credit for any believer's growth in Jesus-dependency.
Whaddawedo when we struggle to believe Jesus knows what He's doing in our lives, when our human-wisdom wants some RELIEF from the suffering? CONFESS our unbelief in Him and His sovereign reign, genius plan. Ahhh.
-- Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships
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