We live in a very shallow culture where weakness and trouble are viewed as merely derailments to our “good life.” While it’s true that God didn’t create us to live with the disasters and wreckage that sin has created; the fact is, anyone who has ever committed a sin, is COMPLICIT in causing the current wreckage this world is in. Therefore, we must develop a healthier and more resilient mindset than just simply looking to avoid pain. In other words, the highest form of satisfaction in a fallen world is not to die having lived with the greatest degree of earthly pleasure—(by the way, this was never the highest form of satisfaction even before sin entered the world); rather, it is—to have lived for God’s glory.
So—how does trouble, weaknesses, and pain factor into—living gloriously?
Paul the Apostle gave us this starkly anti-pop culture perspective:
“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.”
II Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul understood something that our entire pleasure-seeking culture has missed: God’s glory IS our greatest pleasure. Pain and tragedy is inevitable in this sin-riddled world. So, rather than make pleasure our god and become crushed when predictable tragedy steals it from us; we must make the LORD our God. When we do, no amount of pain can steal Him from us. It is the great secret of a good 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, it’s a double blessing. WE get to be part of God’s miracles and we get to be a story for OTHERS of the deep and abiding life they can have with Him. Don’t you want others to see the good life with God? Ah, let’s be a picture of—what it looks like to be part of God’s family, how He solves problems, how He loves, and how He gives peace in the storm!
