The Gift of Rough Places ('Look Unto Me' Devotional)

I must say, I have been thanking God that my life is not "too easy" this week. I thank Him that there are not too many "smooth places," to keep me needing Him and broken.

March 10

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
Psalm 30:6

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

"Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another--she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged" (Jer. 48:11). In the same way, give a person wealth; let his ships come in, continually bringing him the richest freight from around the world; and even let the wind and waves appear to be his servants, safely carrying his ships across the mighty seas. Let his land always have an abundant yield and the weather always favor his crops, let uninterrupted success be his, and let him be unsurpassed as a successful merchant. Allow him constantly to enjoy good health and to march triumphantly through this world with nerves of steel and the sharpest eyes. Let him live in happiness, always with an energetic spirit and with a song on his lips, and let his eyes always sparkle with joy. Allow all of this--an incredibly easy life for anyone--and consider what the natural consequence will be. To think this person will be the best Christian who has ever breathed is sheer presumption!

Even David said, "When I felt secure, I said 'I will never be shaken.'" And we are not better than David--not even half as good. Dear Christian, beware of the smooth places along the road of life, and when you encounter the rough places, thank God for them. If the Lord always rocked us in the cradle of prosperity, if we were constantly bounced on the knee of good fortune, if there were never any stain on the alabaster pillars of our life, if there were never a few clouds in our sky, and if there were not any bitter drops in the wine of this life, we would all become intoxicated with pleasure. And once intoxicated we might believe we are standing, and perhaps we would be. But it would be in a very dangerous place, like a man who has fallen asleep at the top of a ship's mast. He may be standing, but every second his life is in jeopardy.

Thus, we praise and thank God for afflictions and the changes in our lives. We glorify Him when we lose material possessions and other assets, for we know if He does not discipline us we may become too secure. Remember this truth--constant worldly prosperity is actually a "painful trial" (1 Peter 4:12).

Afflictions, though they seem severe,
In mercy oft are sent.
John Newton, 1725-1807

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

As believers our attitude toward suffering and trials should be much different from that of the world. Spurgeon ends today's devotion with a brief two-word quote from Peter. As you read it in its context, notice his positive view:

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name" (1 Pet. 4:12-16).

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