Q&A

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

The question is, When we are grappling with pain - physically or emotionally; when trials come at us in seemingly never-ending waves, do we perceive that as God ignoring us or not paying attention to what is going on? As punishment? Do we see that as a reason or excuse to not be about our Father's business?

The question is, When we've done all that we know to do, are we still going to stand on His Word? 

Paul did, and I dare say he suffered more after becoming a follower of Christ than any of us have. Paul gives us the highlights in 2nd Corinthians 11:23c-28,

...in far more labors, in far more imprisonments,

beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

Three times I was beaten with rods,

once I was stoned,

three times I was shipwrecked,

a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys,

...in dangers from rivers... dangers from robbers... dangers from my countrymen... dangers from the Gentiles... dangers in the city... dangers in the wilderness... dangers on the sea... dangers among false brethren...

I have been in labor and hardship,

through many sleepless nights,

in hunger and thirst,

often without food,

in cold and exposure.

Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

None of those things stopped Paul. None of them combined deterred him from his purpose of spreading the Good News - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn't question God over it. The truth is he saw it as a ministry tool! (see Philippians 1:12-16)

The question is... Can we believe in the midst of it all that God is working something eternal which we can neither see nor hear? That God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them? (see Romans 8:28 NLT)

And our answer is...?

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as Moses prayed, Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will You delay? Take pity on Your servants! Satisfy us each morning with Your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, Your servants, see You work again; let our children see Your glory. And may You, Lord our God, show us Your approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen