Thoughts for another day

March 19, 2012

Today's verse: Ps. 75:6,7. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In our limited imagination, it's weird to understand but rather real that all human endeavor succeeds only by God allowing it to succeed and not due to their ability (who gave that ability in the first place?).  Conversely, does it mean that if a man has had failure, then God is responsible for that?  While it's a little difficult to answer with a straight forward yes, it must be said that failure is refusal of a man to accept God ordained defeat in his life.  So he cracks up to his own detriment; whereas if he would've accepted it as God's test, it would eventually work out for his good. 

I don't understand why the progress graph in some people's lives moves downwards; even if that person is brilliant, he yet, faces failure.  Now to be in the shoes of that person isn't a pleasant task, for believe me, it's very painful.  You can see others moving forward, atleast materially (for that's our yardstick for comparison), whereas you're in a sense, moving backward.  But so it is and it's not good.  You may blame God and even be angry with Him.  But, doesn't He as the Creator have the right to grant a few downs in our lives?  And even in the downs, we have the choice to accept His Grace and fight, or sulk and despair.  The former is the superior way and fighting it makes us that much more tough.

In the Bible we have a good example of a man suffering, that too for no fault of his: Job.  But Job, though he condemns his destiny and is very upset, doesn't curse God nor deride Him.  His only fault, if one may call it, is to question the Almighty.  From this we learn that we must have patience and depend on God who has allowed misery in our lives to be satisfied that we're in line with His will and He will remove the misery and bless us abundantly.  I read somewhere about this man begging God to make him patient and when God subjects him to trial to increase his patience, he cries out and tells God He is unjust.  God then gently reminds him about his prayer!  And the man realizes what a fool he has been.  So also remember, if you've prayed to God for the greatest Graces, know well that He will give you this Grace and also put you in a situation where you can recognize it.  So, if for some reason you're going through some inexplicable difficult patch, look up and ask and He will tell you and even remove the difficulty.  He does it for everyone who is faithful to Him.