“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison … “ (2 Corinthians 4:17, NASB)
“Trials do serve their purpose …
Just as the weight of a grandfather’s clock, or the stabilizers in a ship, are necessary for them to work properly, so are troubles to the soul. The sweetest perfumes are obtained only through tremendous pressure, the fairest flowers grow on the most isolated and snowy peaks, the most beautiful gems are those that have suffered the longest at the jeweler’s wheel, and the most magnificent statues have endured the most blows from the chisel. All of these, however, are subject to God’s law. Nothings happens that has not been appointed with consummate care and foresight. from Daily Devotional Commentary
(from Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, February 16, page 78)
Photo taken by: David Tommasino
Today I am joining … Scripture & a Snapshot and Sunday Scripture Blessings and Selah .
How do I always miss the “light and momentary” when I am in the midst of an affliction?
Thanks so much for yet another timely reminder!
That is exactly what I thought! This post was more for me than anybody! Bless you, friend!
As usual, your post is spot on! You won’t believe what happened to us this week-when we bought our house five years ago, there was an $254 property tax due that wasn’t taken care of at closing that we had no idea about. This week we got contacted by our county that our home was in foreclosure proceedings! For five years the county has been sending all of our mail to our previous home’s address, not our home now, and not the property that the tax is due on! Our home was going to go up for auction in June-all without us being aware of any tax issue or notification and all over $254! There has been negligence between the title company, our mortgage that we pay our property taxes through, and the county but in order to quickly stop the foreclosure process we had to go to the county and pay $2300 because of interest and penalties. I just wrote in my journal yesterday asking God to help me to see, hear and understand what He wants me to learn through these circumstances. I do see His hand in it all coming to light in time to stop the whole mess. I must say though, at age 63, suddenly facing the loss of your home for no fault of your own was traumatic. I certainly have so much empathy for other senior citizens who may not have the funds or the support system to even fight something like this.
Love this as I certainly needed to read you words today. They are encouraging. Thank you.
Those are some beautiful examples of how the pressure and weight of our trials can produce goodness and beauty in our lives. Beautiful object lessons!
This is one of the hardest things to grasp. As often as I have pored over the Scriptures concerning suffering and trials and come to peace with God’s purposes for them, when something happens, I have to pore over them again. In my head I know He has good purposes for what He allows, but I have to work that truth through my soul again and again.