Anchors in-the-storm

HP073 Anchors pp.qxp 7/23/07 12:01 PM Page 1

ANCHORS IN
CONTENTS THE STORM
by Joe Stowell
Truths That

D
Hold Us Steady. . . . . . . . 2 uring his years of
Commonality . . . . . . . . . 3 pastoring, radio
broadcasting, and
Bearability . . . . . . . . . . . 5 the presidency of Moody
Supernatural Options . . . 7 Bible Institute, Joe Stowell
God’s Power . . . . . . . . . . 9 has helped many hurting
God’s Divine Support . . 15 people find strength for the
journey of life.
A Process With With a reassuring realism
A Purpose . . . . . . . . . . 15
that is rooted in the timeless
The Purpose Of counsel of the Word of God,
Bringing About What
Is Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Joe proclaims a message of
Go With What hope and faith that can be ours
You Know. . . . . . . . . . . 24 as we travel the wonderful yet
Pain Is A Process. . . . . . 26 difficult road of life.
This is the kind of
Pain Is A Process encouragement you will find
With A Purpose . . . . . . 29
in the following pages excerpted
from The Upside Of Down by
Discovery House Publishers.
Martin R. De Haan II
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo:Terry Bidgood
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the New International Version®. NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved.
This booklet is based on a portion of The Upside Of Down by Joseph M. Stowell, published by
Discovery House Publishers, a member of the RBC Ministries family.
© 2007 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA


TRUTHS THAT from the neck up, but
HOLD US STEADY somehow it doesn’t make
sense in my heart.” We

P
ilots flying in a storm assume that if it only makes
or in darkness quickly sense in our heads, it’s not
become disoriented and helpful. But it is.
deceived by their senses. Part of the process of
Pilots say that when they working through pain is
are flying without visibility, learning to hang on to what
they can be flying in a tight we have from the neck up.
circle while their senses When our hearts are broken
assure them that they are and hurt, there won’t seem
flying straight ahead. When to be a pipeline from the
a pilot becomes disoriented brain to the emotions. That’s
in this way, his body is okay. Just don’t let go of
telling him one thing and what you know. That’s the
his instruments are telling key to making it in the midst
him something completely of difficulty. That’s exactly
different. To keep flying when God’s Word says,
safely, he must rely on “Consider it pure joy . . .
the instruments in his because you know that . . .”
plane. Those instruments (Jas. 1:2-3).
will tell him what is actually What can we know in
and absolutely true. the midst of trials? What are
What we know to be the reliable instruments that
true when we’re in trouble track us successfully in the
is the instrument panel that midst of difficulty?
provides certainty regardless In James 1:3-4, the
of how we feel. People who stabilizing truth is that we
are hurting have often told can know that “the testing
me, “I know what’s true of [our] faith produces
2
© 2007 RBC Ministries


endurance” and that we the scope of the verse. It’s
should “let endurance have interesting to note that the
its perfect result, so that word temptation is from the
[we] may be perfect and same word group we find in
complete, lacking in James 1:2 (italics added):
nothing” (NASB). James is “Consider it pure joy, my
saying that we can know brothers, whenever you
that pain is a process with face trials of many kinds.”
a purpose. That specific Actually 1 Corinthians 10:13
piece of knowledge will could read, “No trouble has
enable us to implement seized you except what is
the joy response. common to man.”
There are at least six This portion of verse 13
mental anchors in Scripture provides the first principle
that give stability in the we need to rely on in the
midst of trouble. face of problems. It’s the
principle of commonality.
COMMONALITY You can be absolutely sure
Three of those that you are not the only one
“knowable” truths who has gone through this
are found in 1 Corinthians kind of problem. You haven’t
10:13. The first portion of been singled out by God to
that verse reads, “No be the one individual in the
temptation has seized you history of the human race
except what is common to selected to experience a
man.” Unfortunately, we situation like this. There
tend to think of the word were others before you, and
temptation only in regard to there will be others after you.
sin. Although that is a part It’s been said that
of its meaning, limiting the misery loves company.
term to sin greatly reduces What is true is that misery
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needs company to keep insight can be very helpful.
us from terrible aloneness, Look for heroes who have
to enable us to find others made it through with their
who have struggled against hands held high in victory.
the same dragons, and to What you’re suffering is
prepare us to help others common to others.
who are yet to be And as God, by His
ambushed. grace and in His time,
In the American church, begins to put the pieces of
we have privileges that few your growth and His glory
other believers around the together, you can fulfill the
world have. One of them truth of commonality by
is good Christian literature. becoming a support to
Most Christian bookstores someone else who is looking
today have quality material and listening for that “Can I
available about people help? I’ve been there too!”
who have walked through A tremendous frustration
dark times—biographies of for me as a pastor was to
suffering heroes, and specific stand with people who were
titles on sudden tragedy, experiencing terrible pain.
abuse, broken homes, I learned early on that
disappointments, and a I should not say, “I
variety of other problems. understand.” Because I
If you are suffering didn’t understand. I had
through a trial, you should never been there myself.
be able to find someone who But then some special
has been there before, who person who had been there
has struggled and come to before would walk up and
know grace, growth, and put his arm around this
glory. Networking with others suffering soldier and say,
as a point of support and “I understand. Let’s talk.”
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BEARABILITY Matthew, followed me into
The second reality is the the garage and nobly said,
truth of bearability. First “Daddy, let me help!” (Why
Corinthians 10:13 goes on to is it that when children are
say, “And God is faithful; He too young to help they want
will not let you be tempted to help you, and when they
beyond what you can bear.” finally get old enough to
That statement guarantees be constructive, they aren’t
that God never gives us interested?) “Sure, Matt,”
anything more than what we was my reply. This precious
can bear. It’s like the country little boy took two cartons of
road that has a sign posted bottles and struggled to get
before a bridge, “Load Limit them into the car.
5 Tons.” God, who knows Off we went to the
our “load limit,” limits the grocery store. I got a cart
load He permits us to carry. and piled the bottles in,
One of the states in put some under my arms,
which we lived had a bottle and started to the store.
return policy. Each empty Matt had his two cartons.
pop bottle was worth 10 Halfway across the parking
cents. Neither Martie nor lot he set his down, looked
I especially liked to take the at me, and exhaustedly
bottles back. This meant said, “Daddy, I can’t do
that they accumulated it. They’re too heavy.” I
in our garage, leaving a replied, “Listen, Matthew.
veritable savings account You started the project. You
in pop bottles. One evening wanted to help. Now buck
when the stacks of bottles up and do it right. Pick
had gotten intolerably high, those bottles up. I’ll count
I decided to take them back. to five.”
Our then preschooler son, Do you think I said that?
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Not a chance! As his become brittle and fatally
father, I understood his broken when, by poor
limits. I picked up Matt’s responses, we permit
cartons and put them into bitterness to add extra
the grocery cart. Now if I, weight to the load of our
as an earthly, fallen father struggle.
would do that for my child, There’s a particularly
how much more will my strategic side to this
Father in heaven, who principle that we dare not
intimately knows me, be miss. All of us have had the
willing to never permit feeling at times that God
anything more than what really hasn’t done anything
I can bear. You can know for us in a long, long time.
that. If He permits trouble We see Him at work for
to come into your life, it’s others, yet much of our life
bearable. seems strangely lacking in
It’s not that our terms of the supernatural.
trouble doesn’t often We tend to sour and think
seem unbearable. It often that though God may be at
does. It’s that we can know work somewhere, “He’s not
that if God has permitted it, at work in my life!”
in His intimate knowledge Actually, if God did
of who we are (and He nothing more than redeem
knows us better than we me, He’s already done far
know ourselves), we can be more than I deserve. That’s
assured that it is indeed not reason enough to give Him
beyond our capacity to bear. praise and glory for the rest
In this guarantee is the of my life. Yet beyond that,
promise that though we may He’s active every day in
become bent, we will never my life as He stands as
be broken. Our lives only the sentinel at the gate of
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my existence, weighing, to rescue godly men from
measuring, and excluding trials.” It guarantees that
everything that exceeds my when I get into trouble,
load limit. Those are the though I may feel as though
things I know nothing about. I am trapped in a room with
Periodically, as I fall asleep, four walls closing in on me
I like to thank God for the and no windows or doors for
things He did for me today escape, God already knows
that I am unaware of. When how He is going to deliver
there is nothing on your me. He is in the business of
thanksgiving list, thank Him making ways of escape.
that He has guaranteed that When David was being
your struggles are bearable hunted by Saul, he found
and that He has kept from himself in a cold cave crying
you things that would have out to God, “How long, O
been crushing blows. Lord? Will You forget me
forever? How long will You
SUPERNATURAL hide Your face from me?
OPTIONS How long shall I take
The third reality we can counsel in my soul, having
know for sure is that God sorrow in my heart all the
has supernatural options day? How long will my
available for delivering us enemy be exalted over me?”
from trouble. The closing (Ps. 13:1-2 NASB).
portion of 1 Corinthians Like David, when we feel
10:13 says, “But when you that God has forgotten us,
are tempted, He will also we are prone to plan our
provide a way out so that own escape. We say, “I
you can stand up under it.” know what I’ll do. I’ll—no,
I love 2 Peter 2:9, which that won’t work. Here’s what
says, “The Lord knows how I’ll do—no, I don’t think that
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will work either.” It’s the total stretch out your hand over
despair of seeming to be the sea to divide the water
locked in with no way out. so that the Israelites can
The children of Israel, go through the sea on dry
finally delivered from Egypt ground” (vv.15-16). We
through God’s performance know the rest of the story.
of phenomenal miracles, The sea parted and the
stood with their backs to the Israelites walked across.
Red Sea watching the dust The Egyptian army followed,
of the approaching Egyptian God closed the sea, and
host on the horizon. Their they sank like stones.
response? “God has options God’s people were free.
we never dreamed of in The trouble was past. God
Egypt. Remember those 10 knows how to deliver the
plagues? We never dreamed righteous from trouble.
God would deliver us like I recall counseling a
that. Can you imagine what woman who had just come
He’s going to do now? This to know Christ. She was
is going to be spectacular.” interested in becoming
Unfortunately they said, God’s kind of woman, so
“It would have been better we were studying passages
for us to serve the Egyptians of Scripture that had to do
than to die in the desert!” with what a biblical wife is
(Ex. 14:12). like and talking about the
Yet God had a plan to whole matter of gracious
deliver them that they never cooperation with her
would have dreamed of. husband’s leadership. She
God said to Moses, “Why came to me one day and
are you crying out to Me? said, “Pastor, I’ve got a
Tell the Israelites to move major problem. I have been
on. Raise your staff and saving up my money for a
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dining room set. I love she came back and said,
the one my mother-in-law “You’re not going to believe
has and am looking for this, but my mother-in-law
something just like it. After called me and said that she
I’ve gone through the used had bought a brand-new
furniture ads in the paper, dining room set and wanted
my husband and I drive to know if I wanted hers.”
around and look at them. God does not always
But he doesn’t seem to be work exactly like that.
real interested. He’s so But it’s clear that He has
insensitive. We’ve been to lots of different options of
a couple of places where deliverance. When we are
I really liked the furniture, faithful and patient through
but he just says, ‘No, I trouble, God will, in His
don’t like those.’ ” time, exercise options of
I encouraged her to be deliverance that are far
patient and wait for the Lord beyond what we ever
to work in His way. The next dreamed.
week she came back and
said it was worse. She said, GOD’S POWER
“The worst thing about it is The fourth truth we
that it’s my money and he know is that God’s power
couldn’t care less what kind is at work in our difficulty.
of furniture we have in the I have a friend who has a
house. He doesn’t know if wonderfully engineered car.
we have French Provincial When we come to a light
or Early Salvation Army. and wait for it to change,
He’s basically interested in I feel like telling him, “Start
his newspaper, easy chair, the car.” It sits there with no
and the TV.” vibration or noise from the
A couple of weeks later engine. If I had that car, I’d
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probably break 10 dozen the people closest to him,
starters thinking it had gone his own family, he was sold
dead. If it weren’t for the into Egypt as a slave. Rising
tachometer sitting at idling to a place of influence in
RPMs, you’d think the Potiphar’s house, Joseph
power was gone. daily faced Potiphar’s wife’s
Much of the time, efforts to seduce him.
we don’t notice that God’s The Egyptians prided
power is engineering our themselves on having
trouble toward resolution. beautiful, sensual wives.
Sometimes we see very little Potiphar, being one of the
evidence of His work. Yet leading bureaucrats in the
His power is busy at work in land, no doubt had a wife
at least three dimensions. who was rather spectacular.
God’s Power To He was off on business
Bring Good Out Of much of the time, so she
Bad. Dimension number was probably lonely. Joseph,
one is the claim of Romans who was young and strong,
8:28, where we are assured was running the household
of God’s power to bring that every day. One day she
which is bad to that which grabs him, and he runs.
is good. It’s His phenomenal God looks down on Joseph
ability to take the worst and says, “Joseph, nice
possible circumstances going. You’re My kind of
and transform them and man!” But he gets 3 years
ultimately bring good out in the slammer. For 3 years
of that which is terrible. nobody remembers him.
If you ever get really (In those years God may
disappointed or discouraged, have been extracting the
read the story of Joseph in arrogance from his life.)
Genesis 37–50. Betrayed by Then, in His time, God
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delivers Joseph and elevates personally agonizing than
him to the second highest the moment when the Son of
position in the empire. God was hung as a criminal?
There was a famine in All of hell rejoiced for 3 days.
the land and his treacherous Satan had won the day.
brothers came to him for He had exterminated the
food. Now their lives were in conquering Son. Then
his hands. In time, Joseph’s God turned that which
father, who had moved to was incredibly bad into that
Egypt, dies, and the brothers which was wonderfully good.
were fearful that Joseph was Redemption from sin. Hell
going to kill them in revenge canceled and heaven gained.
(Gen. 50:15). They came Unfortunately, unwilling
cowering before Joseph, only to wait patiently, we often
to hear him say, “Don’t be get in the way by attempting
afraid. Am I in the place of to take the project into our
God? You intended to harm own hands. And while God
me, but God intended it for is trying to do His good
good to accomplish what is work, we’re down here
now being done, the saving messing up His project with
of many lives” (vv.19-20). vengeance, bitterness, and
God had used His power to other counterproductive
turn the very worst moments responses. We need to
of Joseph’s life into that walk in Christ’s footsteps,
which was good. who “ ‘committed no sin,
This capacity of God to and no deceit was found
bring good out of evil was in His mouth.’ When they
demonstrated in the cross. hurled their insults at Him,
Was there ever a moment in He did not retaliate; when
the history of humanity that He suffered, He made
was so brutal, unfair, and no threats. Instead, He
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entrusted Himself to Romans 12:19-21 reads:
Him who judges justly” Do not take revenge, my
(1 Pet. 2:22-23). friends, but leave room
God’s Power for God’s wrath, for it is
To Deal With Our written: “It is Mine to
Enemies. The second avenge; I will repay,” says
kind of power at work in the Lord. On the contrary:
the midst of trouble is “If your enemy is hungry,
God’s power to deal with feed him; if he is thirsty,
our enemies. Joseph said give him something to
to his brothers, “Am I in the drink. In doing this, you
place of God?” (Gen. 50:19). will heap burning coals
That’s a very important on his head.” Do not be
question. Romans 12:17 overcome by evil, but
instructs, “Do not repay overcome evil with good.
anyone evil for evil. Be It’s liberating to know
careful to do what is right in that God will deal with
the eyes of everybody.” The those who cause trouble in
wonderful truth of this was my life. That releases me to
demonstrated when Joseph love them. Jesus said:
admitted he had no business You have heard that it
getting back at his brothers, was said, “Love your
because God is the one neighbor and hate your
who carries out justice. enemy.” But I tell you:
We experience emotional Love your enemies
liberation from our enemies and pray for those who
when we say, “God, they persecute you, that you
are Your business. You deal may be sons of your
with them.” We are then Father in heaven. He
released to be like God and causes His sun to rise
love our enemies in return. on the evil and the
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good, and sends rain long she had been married.
on the righteous and the It had been more than 40
unrighteous. If you love years. I have never in my
those who love you, what life, nor would I ever,
reward will you get? Are counsel anyone to break
not even the tax collectors up a home. But as she
doing that? And if you went on and on about how
greet only your brothers, miserable he was, I finally
what are you doing said, “Why have you lived
more than others? Do with him so long if he’s so
not even pagans do that? bad? Did you ever think
Be perfect, therefore, as about just checking out? I’m
your heavenly Father is not advising it, but I’d like
perfect (Mt. 5:43-48). to know what you think.”
Again, our problem She said, “Oh, no! I’d never
is that we get in the way. walk out of this marriage.”
God has not equipped us I thought that was an
or given us the capacity to honorable attitude until she
deal justice and vengeance continued. It was evident
to our enemies. That’s why that she hated him so much
it always gets messed up that walking out of the
when we try. He is the only marriage would have meant
one who has that right and that she couldn’t torment
the power and wisdom to him anymore. For her, that
do it well. was a reason for staying.
I’ll never forget an Why would she want to give
older woman who came up the opportunity to shred
to my office and heatedly her enemy at every turn?
dumped on me a long list God has called us to a
of objections about her better way. In the midst of
husband. I asked how trouble, we can count on the
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power of God to deal with sane and safe as I respond
those who are against us. properly to Him and to
And we are then free to be the trial.
like our Father in heaven— The psalmist often says
free to bless those who curse that God holds us with His
us, to pray for those who right hand. The “right hand
spitefully use us, and to love of God” is an Old Testament
our enemies, because the metaphor for strength. Think
power of God will ultimately about holding a child’s hand
deal justly with them. while you are walking. I
God’s Power don’t know what it is, but
To Hold On To Us. somehow a child can be
The third kind of power walking along beside you,
we can count on is found and all of a sudden her legs
in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9: “We just fly out from under her—
have this treasure in jars for no reason at all. But
of clay to show that this all- even though she’s off
surpassing power is from balance and in danger of
God and not from us. We falling, your power keeps
are hard pressed on every her from “destruction.”
side, but not crushed; What a wonderful
perplexed, but not in picture! God holds me with
despair; persecuted, but His powerful right hand as
not abandoned; struck I walk the sidewalk of life.
down, but not destroyed.” If I trip and both feet go
I love knowing that God out from under me, it’s okay
values the preciousness of because He’s holding me.
my being. Though I may We can count on His power
go to the edge, in His to ultimately and finally
wonderful, sovereign power protect us and keep us from
He will always keep me complete destruction.
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GOD’S DIVINE heart, “God’s grace
SUPPORT is sufficient.” Like the
The fifth truth we can everlasting arms, God’s
affirm in difficult times is grace comes under us
the reality of God’s divine and wraps around us. It
support. In 2 Corinthians overtakes us, and we are
12:7-9, Paul tells of his supported.
struggles with a thorn His grace is His
in the flesh. He prayed unmerited help to us. In
three times to be relieved trouble, it will be there.
from it, but to no avail. How much? Is there a
So he submitted to the problem that is bigger than
lifelong affliction and, with the reservoir of God’s grace?
a positive spirit, resolved to The answer is no. That’s
let God’s strength be made why Paul said, “[God’s]
strong in his weakness, grace is sufficient” (12:9).
discovering that God’s grace
was sufficient to support A PROCESS WITH
him through the trial. A PURPOSE
In my many years in the The sixth principle we can
pastorate, I have stood by count on during times of
people who have endured difficulty is that God uses
phenomenal suffering and trouble as a process with a
trouble. And I have to tell purpose in our lives. God
you, a lot of times I walk never wastes our sorrows.
away and say, “I can’t Any pain He permits is to
believe how well they’re be used by Him as a
doing.” I think if that were process with a purpose.
me, I would be a basket There are two biblical
case. Then I hear Paul’s purposes: our growth, which
confidence ringing in my is what James 1:2-4 speaks
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of, and God’s glory (Jn. 9:3). the world watching,
Trouble attracts the we can demonstrate the
attention of people around presence and power of
us. Hebrews 10:33 says, God in our lives. Trouble
“Partly by being made a becomes a platform for
public spectacle through God’s opportunity to glorify
reproaches and tribulations, Himself and show Himself
and partly by becoming strong.
sharers with those who I had the opportunity
were so treated” (NASB). One to listen and watch as Joni
Christmas somebody gave Eareckson Tada told of
one of our children a plastic her deep love for God
fireman’s hat. It was one and her joy in Christ. She
of those gifts you wish they was paralyzed from the
hadn’t given. It had a red shoulders down, but her
plastic flashing light on top face beamed as she sat
of it and a battery-operated in her wheelchair. It was
siren. Our kids ran all over clear that God was real,
the house with this siren and satisfying, fulfilling, and
light going. You couldn’t help enabling in the midst of
but notice their presence. her lifelong trial. It was a
It’s like that with credible statement to the
trouble. As soon as trouble reality and power of God
hits our lives, the lights and His grace. Whereas
start flashing and everybody remorse, self-pity, and
starts watching us. That’s bitterness are the products
why it’s such a wonderful of nonbiblical responses to
opportunity to process suffering, the evidence in
the trial in the biblical her life of God’s power
manner so that as a “public and presence revealed
spectacle” in trouble, with through her pain was an
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unimpeachable statement of focuses on the purpose
the grace and glory of God. of enabling our growth
Suffering is a platform in character and in
for the display of God’s competency for living. James
power. Sometimes that 1:2-4 states that we should
power is displayed by His count it all joy, knowing that
miraculous deliverance, and the process will contribute
sometimes it is displayed by to a life that is becoming
the grace He gives to us to “mature and complete, not
positively endure as we lacking anything.”
reflect forgiveness and How does that happen?
peace during an ongoing, The text goes on to speak
sometimes lifelong, problem. of the four-step process
When trials put us on that leads to our growth:
public display, it’s our the testing of our faith, the
privilege, through biblical testing of our endurance, the
responses, to turn the tables testing of our yieldedness,
on Satan’s attempt to deface and our reliance on prayer.
God’s glory. Our troubles The Testing Of Our
allow us to demonstrate Faith. This comes when
clearly God’s worthiness trouble challenges our faith
to be worshiped, regardless; and calls it to the witness
to give Him our willing stand. What is faith? Faith is
allegiance, regardless; and our unflinching reliance on
to demonstrate the reality God. I’m glad that God is
of His presence, power, and not a slippery commodity
peace in the midst of pain. that slides out of our hands
Not only is pain a or a moving target we cannot
process with the purpose of trust. God doesn’t play hide
demonstrating God’s glory, and seek with us. He has
but it’s also a process that revealed His promises, His
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ways, and His character to When trouble comes,
us. They are reliable, solid, by faith I cling to His
and clearly true. They do ways. At such times we
not change. These are the pray, “Heavenly Father, I
handles that we cling to in know what You’ve done in
trouble. the past and how You have
When trouble comes, responded in real lives in
by faith I cling to His Scripture. Since that’s the
promises: kind of God You are, I’ll
Never will I leave you; hang on to You through this.
never will I forsake you I will not become bitter or
(Heb. 13:5). manipulative. I will simply
And we know that in all permit You to do Your work
things God works for the in Your time,” and by faith
good of those who love we hang on to that.
Him, who have been When trouble comes,
called according to His by faith I cling to His
purpose (Rom. 8:28). character. First Corinthians
Perseverance must finish 10:13 says, “God is faithful.”
its work so that you may By faith we hang on to the
be mature and complete, fact that God will be faithful.
not lacking anything He’s not going to show up at
(Jas. 1:4). the end of your trouble and
Even when there’s say, “I’m really sorry, but
no light at the end of the I’ve had a busy 3 weeks.
tunnel, when you are in a I just couldn’t quite get
deepening darkness and around to your situation.”
your heart is broken, these His character is firm and
promises are true and will reliable, fully worthy of our
provide your source of confidence. God is loving,
stability. just (which helps in terms
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of our enemies), righteous, realized early on that if you
gracious, and merciful. put your thumb on a wet
When troubles come, watermelon seed and apply
our faith is tested. It’s a little pressure, it will spurt
called to the witness stand out and go flying across the
to demonstrate whether or table. It’s especially fun if
not we will believe and you can score a bull’s-eye
non-negotiably apply on your sister.
His promises, ways, and A lot of us respond to
character to every situation trouble in the same way. Life
of life. When we give in to begins pressing on us, and
lesser responses, it reflects what is our response? “Get
the weakness of our faith. me out of here! Lord, solve
The Testing Of Our this problem. Immediately.”
Endurance. This comes But when God says no,
about when we apply the instead of trying to wiggle
“faith response” to our out, by faith we claim God
situation. If we cling and hang in there as faith
tenaciously to God, we produces endurance. Staying
won’t give up or give in. under the pressure with a
Interestingly, the English good spirit is an important
word endurance is made up part of the divine process
of two Greek words: hupo as He works toward His
and meno. Hupo means productive end in our lives.
“under”; meno means “to In times of trouble, it
remain.” Endurance is the helps to list specific relevant
capacity to remain under truths about God and match
the stress until God’s work them with the supporting
is done. passages. Memorizing
Our family loves to eat and praying through those
watermelon. Our children sections of Scripture will
19


anchor them in your faith produces endurance.
heart and mind. A pledge And let endurance have
to wait for God to fulfill its perfect result, so
those truths in your life that you may be perfect
while you unflinchingly and complete, lacking in
obey and trust Him is the nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4 NASB).
essence of endurance. “And let endurance
Look with anticipation have its perfect result” is
for grace, growth, and glory, the command in the text.
and rejoice in any signal It’s like surgery. When the
that the process is working surgeon comes in and tells
in your life. Regularly check us we need an operation,
your commitment. Have you we say, “Okay, I’ll endure
started trusting in yourself the process and take the
and your own ways? Have pain.” We have confidence
you become manipulative, in the doctor and believe
resentful, bitter, cutting, that it’s ultimately for our
unforgiving? Or are you by good. Imagine the following
faith clinging to God and situation: We are wheeled
responding in a biblical into the operating room and
way? the staff begins to prepare
The Testing Of us for the surgery. When the
Our Yieldedness. After surgeon walks in, we watch
exercising unflinching and as he walks past the trays
persisting faith in Him, the of razor-sharp scalpels. The
third dynamic is to yield nurse puts his gloves on him
to the process. “Consider and then rolls the tray with
it all joy, my brethren, the scalpels on it toward the
when you encounter operating table. At that point
various trials, knowing we mutter under our breath,
that the testing of your “No way,” and leap off the
20


table. The doctor grabs a wisdom from Him. But if
scalpel and tries to operate we’re so distressed that we
as he chases us around the can’t pray or don’t know
operating room. how to pray, Romans 8:26
Obviously that would assures us that the Holy
never happen. Yet many Spirit takes the groanings
of us give God that kind we can’t even utter and
of trouble when He seeks brings them before the
to produce growth in us Father, untangles all their
through a trial in our confusion, and lays them
lives. That’s why James 1:4 before Him on our behalf
requires that we yield to the in accord with His will.
process. We must resist the Prayer in the midst of
initial impulse to jump off trouble helps us see God
the table. We need, instead, again. It gets our eyes off
to place unwavering faith our problems and focuses
in the divine surgeon us afresh on God, who is all-
and endure, knowing that powerful, merciful, and just.
ultimately it will culminate Prayer reveals things
in a way that we can claim about myself. When I pray
joy and praise for the in the midst of trouble, I
process. may say, “Lord, you know
Our Reliance On this mess with Bob and
Prayer. Last, James tells Sally. Well, they . . . ”
us to pray. Verse 5 says, “If Often the Lord interrupts
any of you lacks wisdom, he and says, “Yes, I know
should ask God.” There will about them. But can we talk
be plenty of times when we about you?” Prayer has a
don’t know what to do or way of revealing things in
how to respond. We need my own life that need to
to go to the Father and seek be faced if I am to become
21


“mature and complete, not requires that our purposes
lacking anything” (Jas. 1:4). for life be like His purposes
I find that God regularly for us. If our purpose in
responds, “I’ll take care of life is to be comfortable,
them. Let’s talk about you.” well liked, happy, and
When I’m in prayer, I’m to accumulate enough
often reminded of biblical money to buy the things
principles that are relevant we want, then we will
and true. His Word starts never find hope in
coming back to me and I’m trouble. These are not
reminded of passages and God’s driving agendas for
principles I need to apply. our existence. Character
This is wisdom from is more important to God
God. Wisdom about Him, than cash, convenience, or
wisdom about me, wisdom comfort. Our competency
about His Word. “If any is of greater value to Him
of you lacks wisdom, he than simply going through
should ask God” (Jas. 1:5). life blissful yet unprepared
There’s never an easy and functionally unable
way to go through trouble, to make a contribution
but there’s always a right to people’s lives and to
way—by counting it joy the cause of eternity.
because of what we The measure of how
know to be true about productive trials have been
the process, by exercising in our lives is how much
faith, by yielding to the more we are like Jesus Christ
process, and by praying now than we were when the
for wisdom. trouble began. Pain is a
Being committed to the process with a divine
fact that difficulties are a purpose, and God never
process with a purpose wastes our sorrows.
22


Among all the His character, and His
question marks that ways; yielding to the
invade our hearts and process; praying for wisdom
heads in times of trouble, and enduring under the
the certainties revolve pressure until there is
around the answers to measurable growth in both
who and what. character and competency
Who? It is God and me. and a reflection of His glory.
The reliable, trustworthy The principles of
God working in me and growth and glory are often
through me with an demonstrated in Scripture.
outpouring of His grace The penetrating theme of the
until my growth and His New Testament is that God
glory are realized. will do what is necessary to
What? My knowledge bring us to the likeness of
of what is clearly true and His Son. His purpose
reliable. Choosing to bypass may be to “grow” us to be
alternate, unproductive, and capable and productive by
destructive responses, we using problems to reduce
choose to reckon our trial the risks that we bring to
ultimately to be a thing the kingdom. Growth may
of joy in His powerful and be fostered by the difficulty
creative hand. Choosing that finally forces us to be
not to permit the baggage God-sufficient rather than
of our feelings to drive our self-sufficient. And His glory
responses, we direct our through us will only become
reactions by what we know evident as we seek to turn
to be true, counting it all every attack of the adversary
to be a thing of joy as we into a clear testimony of
cling by faith to what is true God’s worth and work in
about Him: His promises, us and through us.
23


THE PURPOSE among many brothers
OF BRINGING (Rom. 8:28-29).
The guarantee of Romans
ABOUT WHAT 8:28-29 contains three truths
IS GOOD that fortify us in difficulty.

S
urgery. Many of us
have experienced it. GO WITH WHAT
It is inconvenient, YOU KNOW
painful, unpleasant, Trouble brings with it a
frightening, and disruptive. bucketful of emotions:
Yet we choose to submit to despair, hurt, revenge,
it. Why? Because the pain is self-pity, anger, sorrow,
worth the gain. It promises and a dozen other feelings.
to produce a good result. If we’re not careful, those
God’s Word assures the feelings can dominate us
believer that all pain is a and disorient us from what
process with a purpose. In we know. Emotions derail
fact, God guarantees that our thoughts and detour our
the purpose will have a commitments. How we feel
good outcome. tends to distort what we
And we know that in know.
all things God works for Our resource in pain is
the good of those who not what we feel but what
love Him, who have we know. When Romans
been called according 8:28 begins with the words
to His purpose. For “And we know,” it literally
those God foreknew He means that we have an
also predestined to be absolute knowledge. Our
conformed to the likeness knowledge in pain is not
of His Son, that He a “hope so” or “maybe”
might be the firstborn or “might be”—but a
24


“know so” reality. While our we can cling in trouble.
emotions are like quicksand, What do we know? We
knowledge is bedrock. know that trouble develops
Notice that each major character (Rom. 5:3-5) and
section on difficulty in that trials equip us to be
Scripture begins with an more useful (Jas. 1:2-5).
appeal to what we know. Because of Romans 8:28,
“We also rejoice in our we know that good is the
sufferings, because we ultimate purpose of the
know that suffering process of pain. Knowing
produces perseverance; and clinging to what we
perseverance, character; know make the difference.
and character, hope” (Rom. Truth is our stability factor
5:3-4). As we have seen, in trouble.
James 1:2-4 directs us to A friend told me about
“consider it pure joy . . . the devastating months
whenever you face trials of of depression that she had
many kinds, because you gone through. Nothing had
know that the testing of your seemed to help. She said
faith develops perseverance. that the only thing that kept
Perseverance must finish her from breaking was “the
its work so that you may truth that heaven is real.”
be mature and complete, That basic bit of knowledge
not lacking anything.” kept her head above the
When our emotions jade swirling flood of her
our perspectives, God’s emotional despair.
truth doesn’t change. Another friend, whose
Truth is truth regardless child had died 2 months
of how we feel. before, told me, “It hurts
God’s truth gives us more now than it did then.
a unique edge to which All we have is the fact that
25


God is sovereign and It’s An All-
omniscient,” he said as his Encompassing
voice broke. That’s pretty Process. Since God
basic, but it was enough works “in all things,”
to get him through. we are guaranteed that
As God’s people, we whatever He permits—
have the advantage of truth whether pain or pleasure,
in pain. It’s a definite edge bane or blessing—He is able
in trouble. It’s our resource. to use it all to transform us.
Cling to it. Beautiful automobiles
are especially alluring. They
PAIN IS A PROCESS become beautiful and useful
Romans 8:28 goes on to through a process. The
remind us that pain is a process involves a design
process toward an ultimate concept that is reached
good. Foundational to the through bending, banging,
acceptance of pain is the shaping, heating, riveting,
awareness that God has fusing, and tightening.
us in process. None of It’s a slow process as the
us is what God wants us assembly line moves at an
to be. Though God loves almost imperceptible speed,
and accepts us the way but it’s a specific process
we are, He sees all that we with a desirable goal.
can become. Pleasure has Hundreds of component
a way of making us satisfied parts make up the whole.
with ourselves. Pain catches Some are unsightly and
our attention so that God added under great pressure,
can develop us into His whereas others beautify; yet
dream for our lives. each is essential to the
That process is defined process.
in several dimensions: The truth that pain is
26


a part of God’s process changing, limiting, applying
is seen in the context pressure, providing strength,
(Rom. 8:18,23,26). To wish rearranging. God is the one
to be transformed by God working all things together
without pain in the process for good.
is to expect a hunk of Auguste Bartholdi
shapeless steel to become went from France to Egypt
a beautiful and useful in 1856. He was awestruck
commodity without the by the grandeur of the
trauma of the assembly line. pyramids, the magnitude
It’s A Continuous of the mighty Nile, and the
Process. In Romans 8:28, beauty of the stately Sphinx
the phrase “God works” of the desert. His artistic
indicates a present, mind was stimulated. While
continuous process. God on this trip he met another
will never abandon His visitor to Egypt, Ferdinand
purpose for us, nor the de Lesseps. Ferdinand was
process to accomplish it. there to sell an idea to cut
I have many unfinished a canal from the Red Sea to
projects in my basement— the Mediterranean Sea that
things I tore apart to restore would save merchant ships
and antiques that I have the long journey around the
begun to refinish. With God, tip of the African continent.
I am never an abandoned Auguste was taken by the
project. concept. He decided to
It’s A Divinely design a lighthouse to stand
Supervised Process. at the entrance to this canal.
Note that Romans 8:28 It wouldn’t be an
says, “God works.” Behind ordinary lighthouse. It
the scenes of my life story is would symbolize the light of
the hand of God—moving, Western civilization flowing
27


to the East. It took 10 a gift to America. The Statue
years to build the Suez of Liberty lighting the New
Canal. And for 10 years York harbor demonstrates
Auguste worked on his idea. that what happens in the
He drew plans, made clay midst of disappointments
models, and scrapped plan can often be a prelude to
after plan. Then he had the good things beyond our
right one. It was the perfect imagination.
design. If, in the normal course
There was only one of life, things that seem to
problem. Who would be disappointing, difficult,
pay for it? He looked and defeating can be
everywhere, but no one processed into something
was interested. The Suez magnificent and significant,
Canal was opened—without how much surer is this
a lighthouse. Auguste went process with the hand of
back to France defeated. our wise and powerful God
Ten years of toil and effort guaranteeing the outcome.
were wasted. We must take caution,
You would have liked his however, against slipping
idea. It was a colossal robed into an irresponsible
lady that stood taller than fatalism that sees God as
the Sphinx in the desert. She both the source and the
held the books of justice in processor of pain. Within
one hand and a torch lifted the “all things” of Romans
high in the other to light the 8:28 are the reality of
entrance to the canal. human choices and
After Auguste returned consequences.
to France, the French In her book Affliction,
government sought his Edith Schaeffer tells of a
artistic services to design child who fell off a cliff to
28


his death and of another thing of beauty. That’s
who slipped through the ice what we know.
into a frozen lake. Did God As Paul affirmed, “He
push the child from the who began a good work
cliff? Did God push the in you will carry it on to
boy through the ice? No, completion until the day
these tragedies occurred of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
because we live in a fallen
place and are a part of a PAIN IS A PROCESS
fallen race. It was a choice WITH A PURPOSE
to venture too close to the The third dynamic is that
edge of the cliff, a choice God has no process without
not to check the safety purpose. The guarantee of
of the ice. But it is the Romans 8:28 states that we
powerful, creative hand know that God processes
of God that takes these in us all things toward good.
tragic settings of life and That’s His purpose. For the
works them all together for believer, there’s no pain
good—regardless. without the purpose of a
Life is a lot like a jigsaw good result.
puzzle. Often our lives can I stood in the church
seem like a thousand pieces foyer and said to a set of
spilled onto the table. relieved parents, “God has
They seem to be confused, certainly been good to spare
disoriented, senseless, and you your son.” The night
tragic. But then God comes before, their son had been in
and carefully, wisely, in His a terrible auto accident. He
way and in His time, puts was rushed to a hospital
the pieces together. In the more than an hour away for
end, the puzzle is something special treatment. All night
that makes sense—a good he hung on to life by a
29


thread. He had made it! He takes all that He permits
Standing next to his and makes it a part of the
parents was another couple process to bring us to reflect
whose daughter had been the image of Christ.
killed in a car wreck a few When our family was
years before. It was then at a conference years ago,
that it hit me. Had God not Matthew, our youngest
been good to them? What child, fell and broke his
was I saying about my wrist. I have never seen
definition of “good”? What anything like it. His arm
must my comment have took a sharp left at his wrist
meant to the parents who and then turned again to
were less fortunate? resume its normal journey to
God defines good for us his hand. It was grotesque.
in Romans 8:29. The text We rushed Matthew
says that this process is for to the hospital where the
those who have been called doctor began to set his
according to God’s purpose. wrist. I watched as the
What is God’s purpose? doctor pulled and twisted
According to verse 29 it is to Matthew’s arm. The doctor
conform us to the image of began to perspire, and I felt
His Son—and that is good. like jumping up and pulling
Anything that will the doctor off my son. But
bring us to a more accurate I simply sat and watched.
reflection of the quality of I knew that Matt’s arm
Christ in and through our needed to be restored to its
lives is good. Whatever it original design and purpose.
takes, pain or pleasure, is But pain and several weeks
good if it conforms us to of inconvenience would be
His likeness. That’s God’s a part of the process.
goal in the process of pain. When we are broken and
30


hurt by sin and self-will, our sculpture David out of a
good and loving God must hunk of stone. Other artists
often reset us too. Set back take colored oils and canvas
to His intended purpose, the and create masterpieces.
image of His Son. Set back Beams of steel are bent and
to a heart of compassion, welded to create strange-
righteousness, and love. Set looking monuments in our
into the original purpose of city squares. But I have
His glory through us. never seen an artist even
God not only has the attempt to make something
intention of conforming us beautiful from ashes. Only
into what is good, but He God can do that (Isa. 61:3).
also has the power to God is able to bring
complete the project. the love of Christ into our
I love what the prophet lives. It may take some
Isaiah said when he wrote brokenness. It may require
that God would “comfort that we go through a time of
all who mourn, to console need to become sensitized
those who mourn in Zion, to to the needs of others. If it
give them beauty for ashes, requires pain to do that,
the oil of joy for mourning, then it is good.
the garment of praise for Can we weep with those
the spirit of heaviness; that who weep? God may need
they may be called trees of to stain our cheeks with
righteousness, the planting tears so that we can
of the Lord, that He may be genuinely empathize as
glorified” (Isa. 61:2b-3 NKJV). Christ does.
God is able to restore the Are we self-sufficient?
years that the locusts have The tragedy of our affluent
eaten (Joel 2:25). culture is that we rarely
Michelangelo carved the sense our need for God,
31


when in reality we know God, pain is a
desperately do need process with a certain
Him. God may need to purpose. We don’t make
strip away some of our it through tough times.
security, as painful as We are made through
that may be, to conform tough times—made into
us to the God-sufficiency the beauty of Christ
that Christ displayed. Jesus.
That would be good. And that is good.
Are we faithless? It
may take the impact of a
tragedy for us to experience
the reality of God so that we
learn to lean on and trust
Him as Christ did. That
would be good.
Are we proud, indifferent,
carnal, selfish, unforgiving,
negative, or angry? God
h
This booklet is excerpted from
has something better—the The Upside Of Down by Joe Stowell,
which is published by Discovery
lifestyle of His Son. House Publishers, a member of
God is able to effect the RBC Ministries family. Joe
positive change in us. served for 18 years as the president
of Moody Bible Institute. Currently
He knows what is best. he is Teaching Pastor at Harvest
He knows what it takes. Bible Chapel in Chicago. He is also
He will, as the loving, all- partnering with RBC Ministries in
radio, writing, and television
powerful sculptor, chip productions.
away until Jesus is seen If this booklet has been helpful to
in the hardened hunk you, check out Joe’s ministry online
at www.getmorestrength.org for his
of our lives. weekly thought-provoking messages
For those of us who or his “Daily Strength” devotionals.
32

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