Isaiah 48:10-11
God Refines Us
10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another.
Romans 8:18-30
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Many things happen to us in our lives and some of us take them easier than others...Some people are just more resilient than others...But we are taught by Scripture that we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose...For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the Image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters...And those God predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified...
In these words are interlaced with mystery for me...This is because life throws at us grief, pain, suffering, and sometimes depression...There is an old poem that is called the Guest House and it kind of relates to what St. Paul is saying...
The poem goes like this:
The Guest House:
This being human is a guest house...
Every morning a new arrival...
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor...
Welcome and entertain them all!...
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight...
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in...
Be grateful for whatever comes...
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond...
Written by Rumi...
When I first read this poem by Rumi, I wondered how anyone could want to have a depression or meanness, a crowd of sorrows and, least of all, welcome them...How could one meet them at the door laughing?...How can anyone be grateful for whatever comes into one’s life?...I happen to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and I have read this poem in many of the books I have read...I wonder now after reading this for years, is all that which comes to us -is this from the Guide From Above?...Does God send us these things to learn from them?...
If God is near us and LOVES us then He is in all things and working for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose...Then we see better through hardships and pain and suffering, that some good come out of these things...Suffering may be compassionately done for a Higher Purpose, and for His Purpose...God sometimes tests us in the furnace of affliction...God has sometimes given us afflictions to show His Glory...Sometimes God gives us these sufferings to help those around us, who have similar sufferings...And how God defines good is different than how we define good...Good to us is maybe a life without pain and suffering...Good to God maybe that we are to be good, and lead a life with as little sin as we possibly can, with less emphasis on our personal pains and sufferings...