| The Lord is good to them that wait on him in the | | | | Satan's fear (to condemn us) is crucial toward |
| day of affliction; and he knows them that | | | | living the life we were all destined to live. |
| reverence him. | | | | We're not to be beaten down by life. We're to |
| ~Nahum 1:7 (LXX). | | | | see it for what it truly is. Life is a compendium of |
| We must tire of hearing it, surely, but the | | | | four-score-and-ten years of living with other |
| Christian life is the most resilient way of life | | | | people under God in an existence where a loving |
| known to humankind. It is a constant call to hold | | | | God is the chief architect. |
| out in faith when all of life screams at us to let go | | | | This existence is an expanse so great the mind |
| in our anger, envy, confusion, fear and doubt. | | | | cannot comprehend it - it's a beautiful thing. |
| Although we're tempted to become tired of all | | | | And yet, God doesn't promise us a trouble-free |
| this faith-talk, we should know ourselves well | | | | or hassle-free life - he uses these events to |
| enough to distinguish, at least in part, the devil's | | | | mature us; and he shows us the way to get |
| seed in us - extraneously placed at the depth of | | | | through via the very virtues exemplified in Jesus. |
| our psyches. It is a great blessing to take account | | | | In this is simply the acceptance that we are not |
| of the devil's work; in this, we strive to live | | | | kings or queens of this castle - God alone is |
| beyond it. | | | | Sovereign. It will always remain so. |
| To know that life is actually a "turnaround" | | | | It's not so much important to know this (for our |
| existence where ironical philosophies of life actually | | | | own good) when the seas are calm, when the |
| occur truthfully all the time; this is a great thing to | | | | sun shines. But when the seas begin to lash and |
| be consciously aware of. We're no longer | | | | rise, lapping into boats, spraying into our faces a |
| condemned in our confused spiritual stupor. | | | | water-blast, and the torrential rain scoops us off |
| When we do know this and it becomes | | | | our feet - as life is inclined to do from time to |
| more-or-less a constant conscious reality, tests | | | | time - we need to habitually cling fast to the Spirit |
| and tumults and temptations are just simply | | | | of God. We can only do this if we're continually |
| bumps, twists and turns on the obstacle course | | | | living like this also during the easier times. |
| of life. This obstacle course was designed by God | | | | In our faith we're necessarily prepared for the |
| in love to make life appropriately challenging and | | | | disastrous weather, for we know it will come. |
| interesting. But now Satan has added his owned | | | | When we can contend with the worst that life |
| twists and complications in an effort to beat us | | | | has for us then we're able to rise at the |
| down. | | | | appointed time - in this we're conquering. |
| Knowing this is important. Distinguishing between | | | | © 2010 S. J. Wickham. |
| the motives of God's love (to mature us) and | | | | |