This world in the which we are journeying is filled with potholes, pains, conflicts, and sorrows. We look around us and see bleeding, suffering hearts filled with bitterness and anger. We look within and see pains, sorrows, conflicts within our own heart. Whispering to our minds are those words of doubt. We wonder how is it that we have made such a mess of our lives. We have loved God, wanted to follow Him with all our hearts; yet, that thread of doubt–those words which constantly play back that "I am a failure" haunt our minds penetrating deep into our souls. Whispers come pounding into our minds, ripping at our soul; "What makes you think that God really loves you?" We stuff them down and don’t want anyone to know they are there; because after all, who would ever believe us again. We feel that we must never let anyone know that doubts, fears, and pains ever find a place in our hearts; because then they would wonder about our sincerity when we talk about God’s love, joy, hope and peace. When we stop to read the epistles of Paul so filled with strength and hope, have you ever noticed His sincerity? The depth of His pains, sorrows, tribulations which are overwhelmed and dispelled by His proclamations of Joy, Hope, and a Righteousness not of Works–but founded in Grace. He points us to that Hope which abounds within us because of the Hope founded in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. He ever reminds us that this life of trials and conflicts has a purpose. If I never had doubt; how, could I help you see God’s truth when doubt comes? If I never bore the pain of illness, then how could I help you when you are facing it? If I did not need to daily cling with all my might to God’s promises of sufficient grace to just take that next step; then, how could I tell you that it is OK? His Grace is Sufficient. Look closely at what Paul said to the church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 1: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
So let me tell you what I do know. God is my strength, when I am weak. He is my hope, when all that surrounds me seems to be caving in upon me. He is my Joy, when this worlds counterfeit joys lay heaped in a pile, burning into ashes. He is my righteousness, for on my own I have nothing to bring.
2 Corinthians 2: 14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
But I urge you not to fail to return tomorrow for the second part of Glory to Glory, this journey which is transforming us to see, savour (like a sweet, rich morsel) the Glory of Christ so that we, ourselves, are being transformed day by day, step by step, little glory by little glory until one day we stand before our Savior. Then we may understand, there is no pain too great for the salvation of one soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0