I’m convinced that if left to ourselves, we would order our lives around comfort, routine, and self-sufficiency – this is who we are – this is how we’re wired – this is the “pull” of the world – THIS IS WHO I AM – this is sin.

The wonderful plan of our gracious God is that we might be brought back to humanity’s original condition – beautiful God dependent, God glorifying fellowship with the One who owns EVERY resource. We are so hard-wired toward sin that while we might be able to imagine the beauty of relationship with God, we resist letting go of this world and committing to a dependent relationship with God. To turn my back on self sufficiency is, at best, difficult.

When all the worldly enticements we strive for are disrupted and shown to be empty we experience pain. In this pain the Spirit-filled person will look away from self and the things of this world and move closer to what ultimately produces never ending joy – God himself. God has enslaved pain and sin to do us good in our struggle to move closer to Jesus. He has not taken us out of this world but left us here so we can become the walk-by-faith people he envisions. In this victory and transformation others can see the living, all-sufficient God alive in us.

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2 Cor 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Cor 12:9 – …Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.