Seems like those who do the greatest good for God’s kingdom also suffer the most. Indeed, this seeming injustice has contributed to many a saint bailing on God, defecting from the Christian faith. I can understand the disillusionment these folks feel; suffering while serving God — or even while just being a decent, responsible citizen — is something we don’t like; it just doesn’t make any sense humanly speaking.
God keeps a school for His children here on earth and one of His best teachers is Disappointment. My friend, when you and I reach our Father’s house, we shall look back and see the sharp-voiced, rough-visaged teacher, Disappointment, was one of the best guides to train us for it. He gave us hard lessons; he often used the rod; he often led us into thorny paths; he sometimes stripped off a load of luxuries, but that only made us travel the freer and the faster on our heavenward way.
If ever a succinct statement was written that presents the key to every man’s heart-cry for utter, complete peace of mind and heart, it was coined by King David in his beautiful 62nd psalm! Led by the Holy Spirit, David begins Psalm 62 with these words: “My soul finds rest in God alone…”
He goes on to write about how wicked men were bent on destroying him by means of deceitful lies fueled by corrupt hearts (vss. 3-4).
God speaks these words to us in Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
The cup which our Father gives us to drink is a cup for the will. It is easy for the lips to drain it when once the heart has accepted it. Not on the heights of Calvary, but in the shadows of Gethsemane is the cup presented; the act is easy after the choice. The real battlefield is in the silence of the spirit. Conquer there, and thou art crowned.
You know, it doesn’t matter how much good you do, how large your sacrifice, how great your impact, there is always a naysayer in the crowd, a critic quick to assault and under- mine your efforts! The “bigness” of a person’s character is evident in how they handle these assaults.