Day 81
Principle: True satisfaction only comes from seeing your life from God’s perspective.
In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul the Apostle writes, “Therefore I take pleasure in [think well of, approve, am pleased with] infirmities, in reproaches [insults, hurts] in needs, in persecutions, in distresses [calamities, anguish] for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Did he really mean pleasure? Was Paul exaggerating when he said he thought well of, approved of, and was pleased with his insults and hurts? Or had his perspective been so radically transformed he actually found pleasure in being persecuted and insulted? It seems evident from scripture that Paul found the God of comfort in an extraordinary way in the midst of the distresses and calamities assaulting his soul.
So, what’s the cure for a shattered life? Once again, it’s the three-letter word: joy. I would personally define joy as “a deep sense of inner elation and satisfaction that comes from seeing your life from God’s perspective, and responding properly to the challenges and suffering of life.”
James, the brother of Jesus, taught the importance of responding well to suffering when he wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy [cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness] when you fall into various trials [adversities, temptations] knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [cheerful or hopeful endurance]. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2–4)
Who wouldn’t want to be “perfect, complete, and lack nothing?” Yet, things coming up roses will not make this happen; we must allow situations to, at times, come up thorns.
- Have you ever chose to give God the control within a very distressing situation and experienced His comfort?
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