We live in a very shallow culture where weakness and trouble are viewed as merely derailments of a “good life” full of pleasure. While it’s true that God didn’t create us to live with the disasters created by sin, the fact is, anyone who has ever committed a sin is COMPLICIT in causing the current wreckage of this world.
But when we are born again, our Almighty Father, through His graciousness and mercy, gives us the opportunity to live in the greatest pleasure!
But to experience God’s great pleasure, we must learn to have His mind and attitudes. Then we learn to view pain and weakness through His lens and they become our greatest opportunities. This journey is not easy because our culture constantly bombards us with the notion that the highest form of satisfaction comes from enjoying the greatest degree of earthly pleasures. In order to keep from being made fools of by the enemy, we must retrain our brain. We must not “be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind,” and thus we tap into the “good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
It is God’s good pleasure that every person He created be reconciled to Himself and know Him. That’s why Jesus paid the ultimate price. To know God is to know the Creator of all good things. He created us for His glory and to live in the pleasure of His will.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
When we understand that the pleasure of His will can be experienced irrespective of our circumstances, we better understand the Spirit inspired words of Paul the Apostle:
“And less I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, less I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Our pleasure-seeking culture has foolishly missed the entire point of the existence of humanity; that is, God’s glory IS our greatest pleasure.
Ah, my friend, pain and tragedy are inevitable in this sin-riddled world. So, rather than make PHYSICAL pleasure our goddess and become crushed when predictable tragedy steals it from us, we are wise to make JESUS our Lord. When we do, no amount of pain can steal Him from us. This is the great secret to the best life!
When God’s presence is the most important part of our life, our heart is prepared to handle the hard times because GOD can handle anything. When God is our LORD (rather than the things of this world), we are so full of satisfaction that even pain and trouble cannot rob us of our peace.
God created us; He knows our desires, and understands our weaknesses.
When we allow God to do almighty works through our weakness, we become part of His miracles. Our life is a story for others to read of the deep and abiding life they can have with Him. Don’t you want others to see your best life? Me, too! Let’s be a picture of what it looks like to be part of God’s family. Let’s show folks how He solves problems, how He loves us, and how He gives us His peace in the storm!
It is in God’s presence that we experience our greatest pleasure.
