In Step With God - Chapter Eight - God Uses Adversity

In this chapter, Dr. Stanley talks about how God uses adversity to bring us closer in our relationship to him.  He begins the chapter by using the example of Moses and the various pressures he must have faced.  He also uses some personal experiences to illustrate his point.

            In the next part of the chapter, he discusses some of the reasons we suffer.  Suffering can be the result of sin in our lives.  Dr. Stanley quotes some of the writings of Paul to illustrate this point.  Not only can sin cause suffering, he reminds us that it also robs us of the rewards that God has for us.

            God may allow suffering as a form of discipline.  He uses scripture from Hebrews to illustrate this point.  He points out that we may suffer persecution as a result of our faith in Jesus Christ.  He also writes about us suffering when we violate good health principles, God using suffering to gain our attention and draw us closer to Himself, God using suffering to develop our personal righteousness and maturity, God allowing suffering as a way to prune us for his service, teaching us obedience, allowing us to suffer to teach us to trust in Him, depend on his grace and goodness, purifying us, teaching us gratitude, teaching us how to persevere, enabling us to share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ, and to broaden our ministry efforts. 

            In each of the above cases, Dr. Stanley explains how suffering is used for each of these purposes, giving examples each time.  As you read through each of these examples of how God uses suffering, you come to understand more about God’s ways.  God does not cause suffering, but He may well allow us to go through sufferings.

            Dr. Stanley closes this chapter by talking about how God restores our Hope.  Has God allowed you to go through sufferings?  Did you stop to determine the reason God was allowing you to go through these sufferings?

            Come back next time as we go to Chapter Nine – Forgiven.

"In Step With God" - Chapter Seven

As I mentioned in the last post, we will pick up today with chapter seven, which is entitled, "Right on Time."  This chapter was probably my favorite in the book so far.  It addresses a subject that I suspect all of us have problems with from time to time.  I know that I, as an impatient person, certainly have to deal with this. 

Dr. Stanley opens this chapter by asking a question, "Do you ever feel that God is late?  Or that He has ignored you?"  I know that I have asked myself these questions and I suspect that many of you have also.  The story of Lazarus in the Bible comes to mind - how Mary accused Jesus of being "late." 

Dr. Stanley explains why this is such a problem for many of us.  We tend to view the world and our lives on our own timetable - not God's.  We want to think that we know what is best for us, even though we don't.  We do not look at the world and our lives from a heavenly perspective - but from our own worldly, limited perspective.  Dr. Stanley points out that God knows all - past, present and future.  Therefore, He is the one who knows what is best for us.  He explains why we should attempt to get in step with God's plan and His schedule - instead of our own.

Dr. Stanley goes on to explain how we can do this;  he addresses what is required in order to learn to live on God's timetable.  He talks about Faith, Patience and Hope.  He explains the perspective we "should" have.  He uses Paul as an example  of understanding God's schedule.

Dr. Stanley closes this chapter with a section entitled "Looking Forward with Hope."  He uses the writings of David to show how we can, in fact, learn to live in sync with God's plan for us.  As Dr. Stanley points out, the first step will be to learn to accept God's sovereignty - realize that He knows all - and admit that He knows best and wants the best for us.

Thanks for visiting today.  Next time we will go to Chapter Eight, "God Uses Adversity."

"In Step With God" - Chapter Six

We will now move on to chapter six which is entitled, "Expect the Unexpected."  Now, I know many of us have heard this many times in our lives - expect the unexpected.  In this chapter, Dr. Stanley talks about surprise visits - sometimes these are from God.  He may speak to our spirit when we are seeking answers in prayer to Him.

Other times, we may have been praying about a particular matter, proceed with our regular Bible reading and run across passages of scripture that initially seem to be totally unrelated to us.  Then, suddenly, we realize that the words we are reading directly address the very situation we have been asking guidance on. 

Dr. Stanley points out that sometimes the Lord may tell us to step forward by faith - but may only give us a single bit of information or instruction.  Now, I think where most of us have a problem with this is our impatience.  I know I have a huge problem with impatience!  We want to know it all - and we want to know it RIGHT NOW! 

Many of you may be thinking - I'm not impatient.  OK - let's look at that.  How many of you that think you are not impatient still bake a potato in a conventional oven, which takes approximately one and one-half hours when you can bake one in eight minutes in the microwave?  How many of you have bought a new computer within the last 12 months because you needed a "faster" processor so that the computer would operate faster.  In our world of developing technologies, it seems that the faster things operate - the faster we want them to operate.  Yes - I am the person who bakes potatoes in the microwave and owns a BUNN coffee maker because I do not want to wait 5 to 10 minutes for a pot of coffee. 

But - this is not God's way.  Dr. Stanley points out that is God reveals His entire plan to us, we could become overwhelmed, discouraged or even prideful.  He also reminds us that God operates on His timetable - not ours.  I think this is another difficult concept for us.  We tend to think in "human" terms - not "heavenly" terms.

Dr. Stanley gives many examples in this chapter of how God surprises us and the reasons for these surprises.  This chapter is instrumental in understanding how we can overcome our impatience and learn to look at things in "heavenly" terms;  how we can come to understand and accept that things happen on God's timetable;  and how we can learn to walk in step with God.

If you do not currently own this book, but often have trouble understanding how our Christian life is to be a blessed and joyful one, I strongly recommend this book.

Until next time when we discuss Chapter Seven - "Right on Time."

More on "In Step With God"

We left off with Chapter Four of "In Step With God."  So, we will continue now with Chapter Five.  This chapter is entitled "God Brings Good From Evil."  This is a concept that is hard for most of us to understand.  Dr. Stanley opens this chapter by telling us of a person whom sought counsel from him as they had been going through a really rough time.  Dr. Stanley advised the person to "be still before the Lord and seek his wisdom."  Again, this is hard for most of us to do.  We don't enjoy disappointment, pain, worry and heartache.  We want resolution and we want it NOW!

Dr. Stanley points out that this likely comes from the fact that we do not understand God's ways and his timetables.  Of course, he reminds us that the only way to know God's ways better is through the diligent study of his word. 

He uses illustrations of Joseph and David to show how we can be so disheartened that we feel that all we have left is out faith in God.  But he also points out that this is sufficient.

In this chapter, Dr. Stanley explains that God does not create evil or heartache in our lives - this is the work of Satan.  However, God will use this evil to shape our lives or will allow heartache and dire circumstances to bring us back into his Will when needed.    The main reason that many people do not understand why God "allows" certain things to happen is that they view the world from a human perspective.  The world's ways are not God's ways and they are getting farther and farther from His ways day by day.  Dr. Stanley talks about how, society as a whole, have cast God aside in many instances.  God has been taken out of schools; children are no longer allowed to pray; displays referencing God, such as the Ten Commandments, are no longer allowed in many public places.  Our society has become callous to sins - it accepts many ungodly lifestyles as "normal" such as homosexuality, pre-marital sex and couples co-habitating outside of marriage.  Once we begin "blurring" the lines, it gets easier and easier.

Dr. Stanley points out that some of the greatest lessons of faith come through times of difficulty.  He also points out that it is through these times that God is shaping and preparing us for something even greater and better.

Next time we will take a look at Chapter Six - "Expect the Unexpected."  This promises to be another exceptional chapter - so check back regularly so as not to miss this!!