Preserved & Resilient: I am forever grateful to God for the gift of salvation and all that my life has become. God's mercies endures forever(Psalm 136:1-26).
To be broken is painful, it is humiliating, but it is the only way to meekness. The more we are broken by God's dealings, the meeker we become. To see true meekness is to behold inner brokenness.
God in His wisdom engineers our exchange from carnal kernel Christians to fruitful fellowshipping disciples. From an infinite number of ways, He chooses the most efdective for each individuals transition. And in the handa of the Husbandman, there is no fear, but freedom.
Settle this matter for once and for all in your heart. God is not unhappy with you. He is so pleased and happy with you. God is not against you. He is for you. It's all about LOVE.
NIV, Isaiah 49:15-16
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
Your cross experience will show or be proportional to God’s demands and assignments for you. This cross in question here is where the flesh is traded to please God in death. For which many have rejected, evidently showing their lack of desire or passion for God.
- Robert Liardon
If spiritual power is what you desire, you must die on your own cross. Until then, the resurrection power of God cannot flow through you.
- Robert Liardon
The Price to be initiated into the fulness of God’s presence is a personal ordeal no one, no matter how close or how much they love you can pay for you.
NIV, 1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
NIV, 1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith —of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
God often takes liberty afterwards to humble men more, when He has enabled them better to bear it, than their first entrance into religion. For Christians many times meet with greater trial after their conversion than ever they thought on.
- Richard Sibbes, "The Souls Conflict"
Christian trials are deeper after a sight and feeling of God's love than was before. God is a free agent, and knows every man's several mould, and the several services He is to use them in.
Don’t forget about your past. The times when you thought you wouldn’t make it, but you did. The times when you thought you would die, but you didn’t. Remember the times of God’s kindness, love and faithfulness. TRUE!