From Prison to Praise – Sing In Darkness
The End from the Beginning: a Journey into Faith
(#026 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that the Almighty does from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
I worship nonstop and I endure. It’s all about His will for me and yes, the unknown of that is mysterious and sometimes it can even seem overwhelming. I am learning to trust more in the process every day and am comforted by that fact. Yahweh knows the truth of all this you know. Do you know? He has declared the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10)
“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares Yahweh. (Isaiah 54:16-17)
I am comforted by the reality that the weapon that now wounds me so very deeply is formed by His hand. Its intent is to heal, and yet, it profoundly does so through loss. My experience has made me know what it means to fix my gaze upon Him. Because Sovereign Yahweh helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:7) Yes indeed, I set my face like a flint, and I determine to suffer well, for my life, my true life, my spirit life, is found in the suffering.
As for blessing those who harm me and praising Yahweh in the process, they are keys to effective Kingdom living. Yes, blessing others and worshipping through pain; that’s what He’s looking for, I am quite sure.
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)