It Seems So Strange

It seems so strange to me to rejoice in my afflictions. It seems so strange to me to give praise to God for the tests, trials, tribulations and temptations in my life. It seems so strange to me to give thanks to God for all the myriad failures and shortcomings in my life. It's down-right confusing to be joyful about my sorrows. But I do rejoice. I do give praise. I do give thanks and I am joyful.

Psalm 119:71 (NIV)

⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted

so that I might learn your decrees.

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Every once in a while I get in a quandry about how I was "so bad' and 'wasted so much of my life' in pointless pursuit of worldly success and fleshy pleasures. I speculate what it would be like if I had walked with God my entire life. I compare and contrast myself, a man saved from sin, with those that I perceive to have been saved from goodness. Every time that I have that conversation with myself, I realize that God allowed those things in my life that I might be attentive to His word and be willing to be obedient. Because I haved dined at the table of sin, I am so appreciative of the banquet at God's table.

I am also reminded that God allowed those things in my life that I might appreciate the comfort that He offered me. And also that I would have compassion for others in the same situation so as to offer them the comfort God has offered me. This is scripturally sound and I rejoice in the recognition of God's truth in my life.

It is appropriate that today, Christmas Eve, I am confronted with just how needful I am for the salvation offered by God through His Son. The very son whose birth we celebrate during this season. It is appropriate that today I once again realize that God has given me great gifts in the form of my afflictions, in the form of His Son, in the form of His Spirit and in the wisdom of His Word. Thank you God for my afflictions.

Merry Christmas!
Carl