Of this text, James Smith wrote: “Nothing ever happens to us by ‘chance’.

Our little trials,
our great troubles,
our heavy crosses,
our painful losses —
are all a part of God’s plan!

Nor did He plan afflictions for us merely haphazardly — He planned them because He saw that we needed them. He intended to make them rich blessings to us.

Every cross is a mercy,
every loss is a gain,
every trouble is a blessing,
and every trial is a seed of joy!

We shall be better in the future — for what we suffer now. If we sow in tears — we shall reap in joy. A wet spring will introduce a glorious harvest. Many of our present tears will crystallize into pearls — and will be an ornament to us in glory!

And not only so, but the same love that planned our trials — also provides strength to bear them. Our choicest comforts will flow from them. Time reveals what God planned in eternity — and eternity will reveal what God had in view in all the trials of time!

Let us, then, bear our afflictions with patience and seek grace to honor God in all that we suffer, as well as by all that we do. If we keep our eye fixed on glorifying God — He will order and arrange everything that happens to us so that it shall work for our good. Nothing shall by any means hurt us. The darkest clouds shall bring showers of blessings; and our sharpest pains shall only introduce us to the sweetest joys!

Gracious Lord, help me not only to submit to Your appointments, but to be pleased with them — so pleased that if the turning of a straw would alter them — I would not turn it! Oh, give me grace — to rejoice in my afflictions!”

Paul, a man who had suffered his share of suffering, wrote–“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”–1Thess. 3:3

I have passed through many sad and sore afflictions, and in those afflictions I have been left at times, without any cheering light, comforting hope, or soul elevating consolation. I have cried — but could obtain no answer. I have sought the Lord — but could not find him. I have given way to doubt and despondency — until I have sunk deep in sadness and in gloom. I have been tempted to think that my case was hopeless, and my experience contrary to that of the Lord’s family. I have fretted, complained, and repined; and have been ready to give up all for lost!

But there was one blessed “Nevertheless,” that like a star in the midst of midnight darkness, gave me a little light, and cheered me with a little hope. In Psalm 106 I read of the conduct, or rather misconduct of Israel of old, how they provoked the Lord, and brought down his sore judgments upon them. But in verses 44, 45, it is written “Nevertheless he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented!” What a blessed “Nevertheless,” is this! After so much sin, so many provocations, and such severe chastisement, “Nevertheless!” After all, notwithstanding all, in spite of all, “Nevertheless he took note of their distress when he heard their cry!” As if it touched his paternal heart, stirred up the depths of his compassion, and aroused his tenderest pity! O infinitely gracious God! Again I bless your adorable name, for your long-suffering and tender mercy — toward such poor, weak, wicked, wayward worms of the earth!–James Smith

“My times are in thy hand…..“- Psalms 31:15

We often think we could do better–if we were directing the affairs of our own lives.
We think we could get more happiness and greater good out of life–if things were in our hands.
We would at once eliminate all that is painful and unpleasant in our lot.
We would have only prosperities, with no adversities; only joys, with no sorrows.
We would exclude all pain and trouble from our life.
Our days would all be sunny, with blue skies–and no clouds or storms.
Our paths would all be soft and easy, and strewn with flowers–without thorns or any rough places.
Would we not be happier–if we could direct our own affairs, and leave out the painful, the bitter, the adverse, and the sorrowful?

So most of us would probably say at first, before we have thought of the question deeply and looked on to the end. But really the greatest misfortune that could come to us in this world–would be to have the direction of the affairs, and the shaping of the experiences of our lives, put into our own hands!

We have no wisdom to know what is best for ourselves. Today is not all of life–there is a long future, perhaps many years in this world, and then immortality hereafter. What would give us greatest pleasure today–might work us harm in days to come. Present gratification might cost us untold loss and hurt in the future.

We want pleasure, plenty, and prosperity–but perhaps we need pain, self-denial, and the giving up of things that we greatly prize.

We shrink from suffering, from sacrifice, from struggle–but perhaps these are the very experiences which will do the most good for us, which will best mature our Christian graces, which will fit us for the largest service to God and man.

We should always remember that the object of living in this present world, is not merely . . .
to have unlimited pleasure and comfort,
to get along with the least trouble,
to gather the most we can of the world’s treasures,
to win the brightest fame.
We are here to grow into the beauty of Christ, and to do the portion of God’s will that belongs to us!

There is something wonderfully inspiring in the thought, that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives, for each life. We do not come drifting into this world–and do not drift through it like waves on the ocean. We are sent from God, each one of us with a divine plan for his life–something God wants us to do, some place He wants us to fill. All through our lives, we are in the hands of God, who chooses our place and orders our circumstances, and makes all things work together for our good–and His glory.

It is the highest honor that could be conferred upon us, to occupy such a place in the thought of God. We cannot doubt that His way for us is better than ours–since He is infinitely wiser than we are, and loves us so. It may be painful and hard–but in the pain and the hardness, there is blessing.

Of course we may not know all the reasons there are in the divine mind, for the pains and sufferings that come into our lives, or what God’s design for us in these trials is. Yet without discovering any reasons at all, however, we may still trust God, who loves us with an infinite love—and whose wisdom also is infinite!

When we get to heaven, we shall know that God has made no mistake in anything He has done for us, however He may have broken into our plans–and spoiled our pleasant dreams! It should be reason for measureless gratitude, that our lives are not in our own poor foolish hands–but in the hands of our infinitely wise and loving Father!–J R Miller

In this Psalm we see that God creates all things, controls all things and cares about all things. In this we see His greatness, goodness,and glory. The circumstances of life are not always pleasant. We go from one crisis to another, finding new challenges every day, but in all this we can rest our weary soul on the fact that “His mercy endureth for ever“. That’s why James said, “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.“(James 5:11). Think about it!

Set your affection on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2

One afternoon a young lady came home with a new dog that she just adored. She fed him, washed him, and played with him every day. But very quickly, the dog developed a bad habit of pulling down the clothes hanging from the clothesline.

So the girl came up with a clever idea: She put a white kitchen towel on the line and waited. Every time the dog pulled it off, she scolded him. After two weeks, the towel was untouched. So she hung out a large load of laundry and left to do some errands. When she came home, her clean clothes were scattered everywhere. But left hanging on the line was her white kitchen towel!

Like that dog, many people become very good at learning the routines of the Christian life, yet they completely miss the point. They wake up early to have their devotional times, they go to church on Sunday, and they pray at night. But when it comes to knowing God, the routine often takes precedence over the relationship.

Read your Bible… go to church… pray. But do all of these out of a heartfelt relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Don’t do the routine for the sake of routine. Instead, let the routine simply be worship of the almighty God who loves you!

Pray and ask God to show you where your ‘Christian routine’ falls short of heartfelt worship. Ask Him to give you a new focus as you live each day walking with Jesus Christ.–Senior Living