The Other 90 Percent

THE OTHER 90 PERCENT

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4

No one enjoys suffering for any amount of time, let alone enduring longsuffering.  Through it, however, the Lord works in ways that our minds cannot even imagine.

Living in a fallen world, there is peace in knowing that the Lord has not abandoned us to fend for ourselves.  He is tender-hearted toward us in our pain, drawing close to comfort us in our tears.  As a hen gathers her brood, He offers refuge and loving kindness under the shadow of His wings (Matt 23:37).

“we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:14.

Jesus’ suffering was a work far greater than what was observed by the crowds at His crucifixion.  Like an iceberg with 90% of its mass below the surface, there was far more transpiring beneath the surface of His pain than could be seen with their eyes —beyond the beatings, crucifixion and death, there was a much deeper work being accomplished.

Through it all, He won freedom for the captives, conquered sin and death, finished the work and paid the price for the sin of all mankind, once and for all (Heb 10:10).

Jesus went through Hell so we would not have to, and His victorious resurrection gave birth to the miracles of grace and mercy.

We rely so much on what we can see with our eyes, that we come to believe that what we can see is all there is—that our pain is only meaningless suffering with no eternal value.  But what if there is something happening that we can’t see?  What if our pain is merely the tip of the iceberg to an amazing work God is doing deep below the surface?

Charles Spurgeon said it beautifully, “In proportion to your tribulations shall be your consolations! If you have shallow sorrows, you shall receive shallow graces; but if you have deep afflictions, you shall obtain the deeper proof of the faithfulness of God!”

Father, strengthen us to believe that You are not allowing us to suffer any longer than necessary to accomplish Your perfecting work within us.  Give us faith to believe that we WILL realize something of eternal, priceless value through our suffering, if we trust You in it.

Father, we ask to be delivered, but more than that, we ask that Your unseen work in our suffering will be for our blessing, the saving of souls and Your honor.  May none of our struggle be wasted or tarnished by grumbling.  Like Jesus, may the pangs of our anguish give birth to lavish grace and mercy in our hearts for our fellow man. As we worship through tears, be glorified in and through us. May we be found faithful in our testing and, in turn, trust in Your faithfulness for the other 90 percent.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

If you have been encouraged, please SHARE!
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A City On A Hill

Image
A CITY ON A HILL By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house.” – Matthew‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭GW‬‬ And I saw thousands of souls struggling in a churning sea.  Under the darkness of a moonless sky, without a boat, they were tossed.  Beneath them sharks swam, nipping at heels, eliciting sharp cries from those who flailed.  It caused them to cling to their neighbor, pushing them to submerge, sputter and gasp.  Exhaustion, chaos and hopelessness hovered over the waters like a mist, obscuring the small points of light that seeped out from around the boarded windows of the nearby city on a hill.  The city on a hill—a beacon of hope to those drowning, contained behind windows shuttered with fear. Lord, we see chaos all around us —man’s inhumanity to man— fear, anxiet
Read more

Paul’s Handkerchief Prayer

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6 Lord, we don’t have to be the only one in a room to feel alone.  We can be in a coliseum full of people and still feel lonely.  We feel alone in our skin.  You encourage us to not forsake meeting together as a church (Hebrews 10:25), but it is the internal companionship that keeps us from feeling loneliness in that packed coliseum. Father, I lift my friend.  Your Word says that where two or more are gathered in Your Name, You are there in the midst of them.  So Lord, as in Acts 19:12 when Paul sent a blessed handkerchief to the sick and they were healed, likewise, across time and space I take hands with Your precious child.  Together we bow before You and admit we need You.  We invite Your presence.  If they feel lonely or alone today, in their life or in
Read more

Beauty Among the Ashes

Image
Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that   I would see the goodness of the Lord in  the land of the living.   Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage,   And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” - Psalm 27:13-14 Father, we thank You that with You all things are possible.  All around us there are financial troubles, poverty, disease, depression, anxiety, divorces, confusion, disappointment, illness, loss, pain and grief.  The list goes on and on.  People are suffering, Father, and are clinging to the last vestiges of hope.   Lord, I lift up my friend.  You know precisely what weighs on their mind today, and which troubling thoughts strike fear in their heart.  Long seasons of struggle bring with them weariness and discouragement.  I cry out to You on their behalf, Lord.  You are able.  We ask for miracles.  Nothing is too difficult for You.  We ask that You take what the enemy intended for evil
Read more