Keith came in for lunch one day with a very sore back. He had been working on fixing our back deck which needed a large board to replace one with rot in it, and had twisted his back in man-handling this board. As it turned out, it was quite a while before he could get back and finish the job, taking several days of lying flat on his back and then being very careful walking around until it came right.

We all experience times of trials and problems as we go along in life and wonder why. Even worse, we wonder “Why me?” The Bible deals with this same question, and quite clearly tells us why. In the  book of Hebrews chapter twelve we read….                                                              “For the Lord disciplines the ones  He loves and chastises every son He accepts. Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.”

So we see that it is for our own good, and that we will benefit from it if we take it the right way. Sometimes we need to take time out for meditation and reflection and if we are always too busy we miss out on these times. We can either choose to be resentful and grumpy in our pain, or we can take the attitude that it will soon pass and things will get better. It is all up to us!

Then there is another aspect of when things go wrong and we are laid low. Paul had a disability of some sort, and he asked the Lord three times to take it away, as he felt it was hindering his work for Him. Each time he was told by God, “My grace is sufficient for you, because My strength is made (or shown) to be perfect in your weakness”. Paul accepted this and said that he would gladly suffer these problems so others would be able to see God’s strength enabling him to continue. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

We don’t realise how often we are examples to others of how God is at work….let’s make sure we are always a good example and not a bad one!