Servants Sometimes Suffer

Are they [ministering] servants of Christ [the Messiah] 

  (2 Corinthians 11:23 Amp)

Are you a ministering servant of Christ?  If you are allowing Him to meet the needs of others through your love, your words, your deeds, you are one of His ministering servants.  As such, you will sometimes encounter difficulties and setbacks.  Scripture teaches that part of God’s plan for His children is to allow such times to come into their lives.

Why would He do so?  Is it to discourage us or render us ineffectual in our spiritual walk?  No, not at all.  As our loving Father, He does not enjoy seeing us hurt or hurting.  Rather, He allows difficulties to come into our lives in order to make us stronger.

In the same way weights and devices of resistance are used to develop physical muscles, so our spiritual muscles – faith, courage, confidence, contentment, hope, joy – are built up and made stronger each time we use them.

This is what Paul was referring to when he wrote:

When I am weak [in human strength],

 then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength)

(2 Corinthians 12:10 Amp)

Just as a parent watches his child’s fruitless efforts to tie his own shoes before he has mastered the skill, our Heavenly Father waits while we struggle to do things on our own.  Then, when at last we admit the task is beyond our ability, He eagerly assists us.  I can even imagine Him sighing “I thought you would never ask.”

                                     Lord, I looked inside myself for strength
                                     to get me through the day,
                                     but could not find one single ounce
                                     to aid me on my way.
                                     I looked to those whom I love best,
                                     whom I considered strong,
                                     but found to my surprise they, too,
                                     were struggling along.
                                     At last I lifted up my eyes
                                     and saw Your gentle smile,
                                     and realized You’d waited there,
                                     watching all the while.
                                    Then I heard Your tender voice –
                                    You spoke so lovingly –
                                    “All the strength you’ll ever need
                                    is waiting here in Me.
                                    “So come to Me and ask of Me,
                                   and let Me give to you
                                   the wisdom, strength and courage that you need
                                   to see each new day through.”