God’s timing for things is amazing! It’s like being dealt a perfect hand of cards at every round, except that you don’t realize it until God knows when you can handle such knowledge without it puffing up pride.
When I say ‘a perfect hand of cards’, it doesn’t mean that there is no toil and suffering involved in holding what you’ve been dealt. In fact, without being given the faith of Christ, by nature we want to be the ones to pick and choose what cards we get.
Before even having my first cup of coffee this morning, I started the day with reading scripture from the Living Bible (to be followed by reading the same verses in the King James version). I didn’t realize I wasn’t reading my ‘planned’ pages for today from chapter five of the epistle of James. Instead, I ended up reading chapter five from 1 Peter.
The reason I’m making a big deal (← a pun sneaked in) about this is because I’d like to share words of encouragement to feed others in the flock of God, so that those who are now where I once was for a long time can know that God never fails to keep His word — no matter how long we might have to wait.
Here is the bulk of that chapter by Peter [the words in brackets are mine]:
…I, too, will share His glory and His honor when He [Christ] returns. Fellow elders, this is my plea to you: Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve the Lord. Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in His glory and honor.
You younger men, follow the leadership of those who are older [those who are spiritually mature]. And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud. If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in His good time He will lift you up.
Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too.
After you have suffered a little while [to the Christian it will feel too long, but in God's perspective it is little¹], our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you His eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever. To Him be all power over all things, forever and ever. Amen.
I never could have imagined what it’s like to be stronger than ever. I’m not referring to physical strength. The kind of strength mentioned here is the best kind and worth whatever sufferings God sends our way! It’s indescribably wonderful to serve the Lord! To not be in the will of God is never worth it.
¹God tells things like they are, because He never lies. It’s human nature to want to make God into our image (how we want to imagine Him to be). That’s why we must humble ourselves and joyfully submit to what God says if we’re to ever experience the super-natural strength that enables us to rise above the influence of those who don’t trust the Lord.
Don’t you want to be in control of how you feel rather than giving others godly powers to ‘make’ you feel hurt, angry, sad, anxious, afraid, happy, etc.? Our feelings should be continually growing to match God’s emotions instead of reacting to what others do. The difference can be subtle, but it still should be there none the less.
I might trip or slip temporarily with my emotional alignment now and then, but God always sees to it that I get back on His track. Every time I do, I come back stronger than the last time. No therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or ungodly counselor can do what God can!
