MORNING MANNA            3/29/20

As much as we dislike the thought, none of us can escape difficult days. Troubles are to be expected and ought to be endured. Since we can’t get out of them we should make sure we get something out of them. That’s what God expects. One of the best ways to do this is to look at a good example of someone who has done it. I can’t think of a better example that that of Paul. In Acts 16:23-35 we find a perfect picture of what I’m talking about. Read the story and then ask yourself this question – “Am I dancing in the dungeon or depressed by my difficulties?”

Paul, along with Silas, had joy in the jail. I don’t mean they were happy about being where they were at the time. I mean they found reason to rejoice even though their circumstances were not conducive to comfort. However, I must add that I believe they actually later found joy in the fact they had been there. I’m convinced that’s true because of what Paul said in Phil. 1:12 when he wrote these words from his imprisonment in Rome, ” But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; ”  Is that not amazing?

When you examine the testimony of Paul’s trials and think about all the suffering he endured you have to wonder, “How did he do it?” Most folks don’t. In most cases people let their burdens make them bitter rather than better. Their misery causes them to murmur. So with that in mind let’s think about perspective. How we view things might not change our circumstances but it changes us. First, let me give you the bottom line. A proper perspective is produced by embracing God’s promises. That’s why verses like Romans 8:28 are so powerful and popular. Anyone who believes that will have a different outlook on life than others.

I suspect we can all remember something from the past that disturbed us at the time, but is of no bother to us today. We think of some experience that we languished over then that we laugh about today. It might have been difficult, disturbing, discouraging, or dangerous, but we think different about it now. It might have been something hard to deal with then, but you find it humorous today. It might have been of such a serious nature that you thought you couldn’t survive, but now you are fine.

Time has a way of producing a different perspective on things. It is often the case that over time our problem seems petty, our pain becomes profitable, our hardships becomes humorous, our troubles turn to thrills, and our grief to good. What seemed so bad then becomes a blessing today. That’s why worry is so worthless. It can’t control or change things. Whatever you are going through, it can be said “This too shall pass”. As an old song says, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday”. We need to remember that! No soldier in his right mind enjoys the fight, but he rejoices over the freedom gained by the victory. Even so “ 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.” (Heb. 12:11).