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Author: Mike Shaughnessy, from the Servants of the Word, an international, ecumenical brotherhood of men living single for the Lord.

Myth busters: God is nice

“God has a wonderful plan for your life.” He does; it’s called heaven, but that might be better described as a wonderful plan for the next life, the after-life. What about the here and now life? Paul, the apostle, described his life in his second letter to the Corinthians.

“Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)

Paul might have added sarcastically, “Yeah, other than that, it’s been delightful.”

But he didn’t! He said this, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:15) Paul was ready to spend everything to serve God’s plan and his people! Strange as it may seem, suffering can be a source of joy and part of God’s plan for you. When “calculating” God’s will, don’t forget to add the suffering factor.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.