Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
There is a mystery all of us go through that we need to unravel: why is it that so often when we've been on cloud nine and we have enjoyed unusual happiness that we suddenly find ourselves, like the hero in Pilgrim's Progress, suddenly plunged into the castle dungeon of Giant Despair? Things suddenly seem to all go wrong. Why? Well, the Bible unravels the mystery.
(1) As a teen, Joseph is riding high in the joy of his earthly father's favor and in the sunshine of His heavenly Father's too, and suddenly is sold into Egyptian slavery (Genesis 37). And he had had youthful dreams of a grand career. From the top of the world to the bottom!
(2) Then, after that calamity, when in loyalty to God he refuses to commit adultery in an alluring temptation, as his reward for purity God lets him be thrust into an Egyptian prison (chapter 39). Looks like God is playing games, maybe torturing him. Why did God give him those dreams of fantastic success, then apparently thrust him into the darkest failure when he'd done nothing wrong to deserve it?
(3) Then there was Elijah. After three and a half years of crushing heartache and wrestling with doubts in the long famine, finally he gets to see God's blessing on Mt. Carmel and his prayers are answered. Oh, glory! The great revival and reformation in the nation is off to a good start; the influence of the prophets of Baal is ended; now there is smooth sailing for God to work (1 Kings 18). Then bang! When he is most tired and needs sleep, Elijah is thrust into the very depths of miserable despair, runs for dear life, exhausted, and is so depressed that he actually wishes he could die (chapter 19).
(4) Then there is Jeremiah: as a sincere but youthful prophet he watches the great revival and reformation begun by his Majesty King Josiah; at last God's sun is shining and the kingdom is on the way to glorious spiritual success. Then suddenly the good king gets himself killed in a foolish misadventure, and from then on it's endless heartache and sorrow for Jeremiah, and the ruin of everything.
(5) Then finally there is Jesus: after the heavenly anointing by the Holy Spirit at the Jordan River and the Father Himself embraces Jesus at His baptism, He suddenly finds Himself "driven" by the same Spirit into a "wilderness" of dark, agonizing temptations (Mark 1:11-13).
What's going on? God is training each of these persons for eventual success. He's training you, too!
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 3, 2001.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
There is a mystery all of us go through that we need to unravel: why is it that so often when we've been on cloud nine and we have enjoyed unusual happiness that we suddenly find ourselves, like the hero in Pilgrim's Progress, suddenly plunged into the castle dungeon of Giant Despair? Things suddenly seem to all go wrong. Why? Well, the Bible unravels the mystery.
(1) As a teen, Joseph is riding high in the joy of his earthly father's favor and in the sunshine of His heavenly Father's too, and suddenly is sold into Egyptian slavery (Genesis 37). And he had had youthful dreams of a grand career. From the top of the world to the bottom!
(2) Then, after that calamity, when in loyalty to God he refuses to commit adultery in an alluring temptation, as his reward for purity God lets him be thrust into an Egyptian prison (chapter 39). Looks like God is playing games, maybe torturing him. Why did God give him those dreams of fantastic success, then apparently thrust him into the darkest failure when he'd done nothing wrong to deserve it?
(3) Then there was Elijah. After three and a half years of crushing heartache and wrestling with doubts in the long famine, finally he gets to see God's blessing on Mt. Carmel and his prayers are answered. Oh, glory! The great revival and reformation in the nation is off to a good start; the influence of the prophets of Baal is ended; now there is smooth sailing for God to work (1 Kings 18). Then bang! When he is most tired and needs sleep, Elijah is thrust into the very depths of miserable despair, runs for dear life, exhausted, and is so depressed that he actually wishes he could die (chapter 19).
(4) Then there is Jeremiah: as a sincere but youthful prophet he watches the great revival and reformation begun by his Majesty King Josiah; at last God's sun is shining and the kingdom is on the way to glorious spiritual success. Then suddenly the good king gets himself killed in a foolish misadventure, and from then on it's endless heartache and sorrow for Jeremiah, and the ruin of everything.
(5) Then finally there is Jesus: after the heavenly anointing by the Holy Spirit at the Jordan River and the Father Himself embraces Jesus at His baptism, He suddenly finds Himself "driven" by the same Spirit into a "wilderness" of dark, agonizing temptations (Mark 1:11-13).
What's going on? God is training each of these persons for eventual success. He's training you, too!
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 3, 2001.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
