10192019 Afterward

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of all grace. It is that God of all grace who ministers to us, often in ways we cannot see at the moment. The God of all grace pours out His grace on us to accomplish what we could not have imagined - not just in outcomes of circumstances, but also within the depths of our own hearts.

Trials are neither fun nor easy. No one wants them, and when we do have them, we want them to be resolved as quickly as possible. At the same time, trials are absolutely essential for our Christian growth. God uses them to do in us what He could not do in any other way. "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4). Our maturity depends upon enduring times of suffering.

We humans aren't very good at seeing the growth and benefit of the trials, at least not at the time. Often we can look back and see that God did a great work. In fact, Christians will often make remarks something like this: "Looking back and seeing what God did, I would not change this experience for anything." One reason why we struggle to see the benefit while we are in the trial is that the benefit doesn't fully come until the trial is over. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).

I'll be honest - and I suspect you can relate. In the midst of an extended trial, I often feel like God isn't doing anything in me. My internal struggles rage like monsters. My faith is battered and challenged. At best I feel like I am just holding on and trying to survive until the storm passes. At worst - well, those thoughts rising from the blackness of my heart can be so awful that I shudder to even consider them. There seem to be no answers, no help, no benefit. In fact, if I ponder the idea that God is doing a work in me, my whole self wants to deny it. I would not use of myself words like receptive, resting, maturity, faith, thriving; instead I would choose words like hard, cold, unresponsive, hurting, struggling.

But that's all during the trial. God's work becomes evident afterward. We have to wait to be able to see it, but I am confident that we will see it, because God says so. As we continue to submit to God through the pain, confusion, and disappointment, as we continue to choose to trust and follow Him anyway, God does  His work. I am not aware of any verse in the Bible that describes this "afterward" process as well as I Peter 5:10 does. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." Our trials are temporary. God will come to our rescue. The God of all grace will personally do His work in us, and it is in four parts.

First, God will perfect us (complete thoroughly, repair, adjust, mend, restore). He will make us complete spiritually. He gives us the tools we need, making us sound and fit for what we have to do. He makes the necessary adjustments, mending what is broken and putting it in working order again. He gives the necessary healing after our harsh ordeal so that we are prepared for moving on. God heals what has been bruised, restores what has been broken, and strengthens what has been made weak. He makes us complete and whole again so that we can serve Him effectively.

Second, God will stablish or confirm us (set fast, turn resolutely, confirm, strengthen, steadfastly set). He makes us stable, firm, and constant. He re-establishes the backbone and the center. He makes the core so strong and firm that the entire person is renewed, committed, and anchored in his faith. We will see that we can trust Him in times of trial and that we should never again have reason to doubt Him. We will see confirmed for us that everything we have ever believed about God can be confidently depended on.

Third, God will strengthen us (give vigor, confirm in spiritual knowledge and power). He will give us increased strength, especially in our soul, beyond what we had before.  When the soul has been damaged, shattered, and shaken, He reinvigorates it. He gives strength to a soul that was completely limp, overwhelmed, and empty. He equips us spiritually by teaching us more than we knew before.

Fourth, God will settle or establish us (settle, lay a foundation or basis). He will deepen and reinforce our foundation so that we are firmly resting upon it. He will drive the roots so deep that they will not again be so easily shaken. He will make us grounded and firmly established, with significant substance to uphold us and to limit the effect of future attacks.

If you are currently in the midst of an intense battle, take heart. No, you can't see all of the benefit right now, and maybe you can't see any benefit. You might see only the hopeless struggle. But the deliverance stage is coming, and that is when God will bring it all together. Wait for it, and in faith believe that He will do it. When God brings you through the suffering and restores you afterward, you will be prepared to live for Him and serve Him like never before. There will be abundant fruit.

God has not stopped His work in you, and He never will. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Someday, maybe soon, you will reflect back on this trial too and be overwhelmed by the immensity of what God has done.

Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com