THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A man ran into the drug store and asked the druggist if he had a quick cure for the hiccoughs.
Without warning, the druggist slapped him in the face. Shocked and angry the man demanded an explanation.
The druggist said, "Well, you don't have the hiccoughs now do you?"
The man said, "No. But my wife out in the car does!"
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Lam 3:32-33
32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
KJV
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All things which happen are within the knowledge of our Lord Who holds the world in His hands. Nothing escapes His all-seeing eye. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. Nothing is done without Him having known it beforehand.
Sometimes we ask, "WHY?" because of the circumstances that come to us. It is natural because we are not in control, though at times we may think we are.
We must consider two things when facing trials.
First, God may bring us grief, but His compassion does not fail. There is always a limit imposed upon each difficulty. For instance, consider Lazarus. Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death." (John 11:4) Though Lazarus passed through death, death was not the ultimate end. For Jesus also said that it was, ".. for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
Like a master accordion player, our Lord, adjust the length and strength of each trial with kindness in order to obtain the appropriate note from our lips. Each trial is not for our destruction, but for our instruction. His grace is ordained to accompany the difficulties before they are imposed. Though incomprehensible in our finite minds, God's eternal purpose is to help us grow in faith.
Second, though God may bring grief, He does not do it "willingly." God seeks an end result of greater faith, stronger trust, and praise given to Him. Just as pain is not the end result sought by a parent spanking a child, God's intention is not the pain.
His desire is for our growth and "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph 3:17-19)
When life's trials cause your faith to "hiccough," trust Him, rely upon His compassion, and praise Him.
Love ya,
Bruce