When God Gives by Taking Away

Job was faced with the greatest hardship of his life.

He had been a successful and wealthy man but then, from night to day all of his possessions were gone including his children and even his own health. His response?

“Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9

Job’s response to the fiery test before him demonstrated an unbreakable faith and loyalty to God. Of course, it brought him brokenness and depression, but he trudged along, never complaining, always exalting God.

But what happened at the end? God restored his health, wealth and children. And what’s more, God gave him much more than what he previously owned.

God will never take anything away without the intent of replacing it with something far greater. Everything that Abba does is intentional.

I’m not just talking about material possessions or earthly success, I’m referring to the heavenly incorruptible blessings. Oh, there’s nothing wrong with success or possessions, but those rot away. If we must strive for anything at all, it is for the divine blessings which have eternal value.

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Matthew 6:20

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2 Corinthians 12:1-10 are some of my favorite verses that I have clung to for many years. You see, Paul was afflicted by an unnamed illness. There are several illnesses mentioned by tradition that Paul might have suffered from including epilepsy and vision problems.

God had a purpose behind stripping Paul’s health; humility.

Paul was one of the greatest missionaries of all time, he was a powerful instrument used by God and God gave Him many revelations. But because of this, Paul needed to remain humble, God needed a humble vessel so that His power and glory may be manifested. God HAD to take away his health to give him a meek and humble heart. Paul’s reaction?

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”(v.10).

For when I am weak, then I am strong!

Wow! He is saying that he is strongest when he is weak because his strength comes from God alone. There’s not a single drop of his own human strength carrying him, he’s wholly dependent on God.Therefore he boasts in his weakness because his weakness amplifies God’s mighty power (v.9). So powerful!

Dear reader, do you realize, how much more we can glorify God in our trials?!

When we have stripped away from the pretty shell and lay dirty and naked, no glory, no beauty-God’s glory shines brighter. And the fact that God has chosen us, unworthy, fickle, sinful mud creatures to display HIS GLORY?! That just blows my mind!

If the All -Powerful Creator of the Universe has made us in His own image physically- but we must conform our spiritual likeness to Him- then yes, we not only need to be stripped away from ourselves, our souls should rejoice in the process. Growth is painful but necessary. Pain is a small price to pay when we can get closer to Abba and eventually, spend an eternity with Him.

Brokenness is a beautiful process. It forces us to let go of the self to become more like Abba. The beauty of brokenness is that God never leaves but holds fast unto our hands. Through the pain and the tears, Abba wants us to feel His embrace and His hand in ours guiding us- holding us. You see, without the pain, we cannot feel the closeness of His sweet Presence. He takes away all that we have, to give us all of His best. I don’t know about you but that’s one exchange I am willing to take.

 

Late Have I Loved You

St. Augustine

Late have I loved you,

Beauty so old and so new:

Late have I loved you.

And see, you were within

And I was within the external world

And sought you there,

And in my unlovely state

I plunged into those lovely created things

which you made

The lovely things kept me far from you

Though if they did not have their existence in you

They had no existence at all.

You called and cried out loud

And shattered my deafness

You were radiant and resplendent,

You put to flight my blindness.

You were fragrant,

And I drew in my breath and now pant after you.

I tasted you,

And I feel but hunger and thirst for you.

You touched me,

And I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.

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