HOW TO BE HAPPY ANYHOW!
[Transcript]
1989 by Heavens Magic
You dont have to be a philosopher or a psychologist to realize that life is full of problems. As the old saying goes, Into each life some rain must fall, and often, when we look around us, it may seem like its showering most of the time! -- And we may wonder why. If God really is love, the loving and kind Creator of such a beautiful world, then arent all of these problems a little out of place?
Why do we have to be constantly besieged by sickness, accidents, death, financial problems, family problems? -- And on and on the list goes.
Why couldnt we be free from all of these things so we can fully enjoy this beautiful world? -- To live life as we would like without the burdens of problems and the pain of suffering and affliction? Were going to answer these questions on How to Be Happy Anyhow!
SONG: DONT BE AFRAID OF TEARS
Introduction: (A-D-A)
Dont be afraid of(D)tears
(E)When they fall like drops of(A)rain,
(D)Though your sky seems dark and(Bm)drear,
(E)The sun will shine for you(A)again.(D-A)
Dont be afraid of(D)tears,
(E)They cleanse your eyes and help you(A)see.
(D)All our sorrows through the(Bm)years
(E)Make us what we ought to(A)be.(D-A)
If(Em)life were all(A)gladness and(D)pleasure,
And(Em)only the(A)things we a(D)dore,
(Bm)Wed(E)never learn to(A)treasure the(F#m)things
(Bm)That(E)mean so much(A)more.
Dont be afraid of(D)tears
(E)When they fall like drops of(A)rain,
(D)Though your sky seems dark and(Bm)drear,
(E)The sun will shine for you a(A)gain.(D-A-
E)The sun will shine for you a(A)gain,(D-A-
E)The sun will shine for you a(A)gain.
-- A beautiful and comforting song telling us that we shouldnt be afraid of tears or sufferings or trials, whatever they may be, because they can yield many priceless lessons and benefits! Its interesting, actually, that the ancient Greeks also strongly believed that tears are good for you, and this is why they put a lot of sorrow and suffering into their dramatic Tragedies. They called it catharsis, which meant a purging or purifying. They believed that deep emotion and weeping washes away the impurity, the shallowness, the silliness and foolishness in you, and makes you more honest and pure. Like an old poem says:
I walked a mile with Folly,
She chattered all the way,
But never a thing I learned from her,
For all she had to say!
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And never a word said she,
But oh, the things I learned that day,
When Sorrow walked with me!
Its been said that suffering times are teaching times, and its certainly true! -- How fast we learn in the day of sorrow.
The darkest hour has only 60 minutes, is a very comforting thought to remember when you find yourself in the midst of troublesome times. I know that sometimes in life you feel like youre in a fog -- lots of times, in fact! But always remember that above it all the sun is always shining, and you just need to make it through the fog. Thank God lifes troubles and trials are usually only very temporary. Im reminded of the time the renowned author Mark Twain and his friend William Howells were coming out of church one morning. It started to rain very heavily, and Howells asked,
Do you think it will stop?
It always has, answered Twain.
Well, here are a few more thoughts, puns and proverbs about troubles and the various reasons we have them! It was again Mark Twain who once observed in his later years,
I am an old man whos had many troubles -- most of which never happened! -- Its so true, that if you examine your troubles, youll often find your name stamped on them as the manufacturer!
In fact, if you could kick the person who is most responsible for your troubles, you probably wouldnt be able to sit down for a week!
You know, people react differently in times of trouble.
Trouble causes some people to go to pieces; others to come to their senses!
And whatever you do, never brood over your troubles or you are certain to hatch despair!
And never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three: All they have now, all they have had, and all they expect to have.
Do you know why you can be happy when your troubles are at their worst? -- Because it means that whatever else happens is bound to be an improvement!
When we think about people, trouble grows;
When we think about God, trouble goes.
Days of trouble should be days of prayer.
When problems get people praying they do more good than harm.
And here is one of the key thoughts that were going to amplify on throughout this tape, that as a diamond cannot be polished without friction, so Man cannot be perfected without troubles. Troubles are the tools by which God fashions us for better things!
Edgar Guest, the famous American poet, had a few thoughts on the subject of trials and troubles and sufferings. He brought out that not only would life be unchallenging, boring and monotonous without them, but also we could never appreciate the beauty, the real beauty of life, if it had no pain or sorrow. After all, when you think of it, it takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow! The darker the night, the brighter the stars! The hotter the fire, the purer the gold! Listen, as I read you this beautiful little meditation entitled, Beauty for Ashes:
In order to bring forth the sweetness, there has to be some suffering. To bring about the beauty of the flame there must be ashes. Something must go to ashes!
Blessings come from suffering -- beauty for ashes!
Like a giant hand taking the honey comb and squeezing it, and out comes the honey! Like a beautiful flower pressed and crushed, and out comes the perfume! Like the beautiful music that comes from the throat of the bird -- almost as though in pain, yet it comes forth with song. Even though the birds song is sad, its so sweet. As a great English poet once wrote, Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thoughts!
Lord, help us not to fight Thy crushing, Thy bruising, Thy smiting. Help us not to quench that beautiful song, even if its sad -- to thank Thee in spite of the sorrow. Help us to be willing to be smitten and crushed, to be squeezed, to be bruised, to be in agony, that we may give forth Thy sweetness, Thy fragrance, Thy song, Thy beauty. Out of what seems like defeat, come some of Thy greatest victories!
You could never appreciate health unless youve been sick! Youll never appreciate Joy until youve known Sorrow! You cant appreciate Gods Mercy until youve known the Devils Justice!
Some of the most precious lessons we learn from the Lord come out of deep dark experiences.
But then, like an old songs says --
He gives me joy in place of sorrow
He gives me love that casts out fears
He gives me sunshine for my shadow
And beauty for ashes dear!
SONG: BEAUTY FOR ASHES
Introduction: (C#m-F#-C#m-F#)
(F#m)My life was so(B)happy,
(A)Full of the(E)sun(B)shine,
(F#m)Never a(B)care shadowed my(A)way.
(F#m)Then one day the(B)storm clouds
(A)Broke all a(E)round(B)me,
The(D)joys of my(A)life washed a(B)way.
(F#m)The heartbreak with(B)in me
(A)Left me des(E)pair(B)ing,
(F#m)Oh, why was(B)my life falling a(A)part?
(F#m)Then in the(B)night I(A)found the(E)an(B)swer
When(D)these tender(A)words touched my(B)heart:
Chorus:
(F#m)Beauty for(B)ashes,
(A)Joy for(E)sor(B)row,
(F#m)The sweetest of(B)songs can come from this(A)pain;
(F#m)The darkest of(B)clouds holds a(A)sil(E)ver(B)lin-(A)ing
That will bring you new(B)hope a(C#sus4-C#)gain!
Repeat Introduction
(F#m)The rain that is(B)falling
(A)Waters the (E)flo(B)wers.
(F#m)The darker the(B)night, the clearer the(A)stars.
(F#m)Out of the(B)ashes,
(A)Lilies will(E)grow(B).
(D)The hotter the(A)fire, the purer the(B)gold.
Chorus:
(F#m)Beauty for(B)ashes,
(A)Joy for(E)sor(B)row,
(F#m)The sweetest of(B)songs can come from this(A)pain;
(F#m)The darkest of(B)clouds holds A(A)sil(E)ver(B)lin(A)ing
That will bring you new(B)hope a(C#sus4-F#)gain.
That will(F#m)bring you new(E)hope a(F#)gain.
Bisogna soffrire per essere grandi. That was the favorite expression of the great Italian singer Enrico Caruso. It means, To be great, it is necessary to suffer.
After years of difficulty, Caruso achieved fame; but the man communicated more than beautiful music through his voice. A music critic once observed, His is a voice that loves you, and not only a voice, a sympathetic man. Tribulation does that for a person who accepts lifes difficulties in the proper spirit.
Sufferings are designed to make us better, not bitter. God brings men into deep waters, not to drown them, but to cleanse them. Everybody has tests and temptations and trials and tribulations, but its how you handle them that makes the difference.
For example, the English poets Lord Byron and Sir Walter Scott were both cripples. Byron was very bitter about his lameness, and was always moody and self-conscious about it in public. Scott, on the other hand, was never heard to complain or speak one bitter word about his handicap, not even to his dearest friend! Its not surprising then that Scott once received a letter from Byron, in which he said, Ah, Scott, I would give all of my fame to have your happiness!
Charles Elliot, one of the greatest presidents of Harvard College, felt terribly bitter as a boy about the serious facial disfigurement with which he was born. -- Until one day his mother gave him this advice which changed his life! She told him, My son, we have consulted the best surgeons and they say that it is not possible for you to get rid of this handicap! But it is possible, with Gods help, to grow a mind and soul so big, that people will forget to look at your face! -- And he did!
And who hasnt heard of Helen Keller. She was deaf, dumb and blind, but because of the love and dedication of a sweet Christian nurse, Annie Sullivan, she learned not only to write but to speak as well! She became a world-famous poet, writer and public speaker, and has been a tremendous encouragement to millions of deaf, dumb and blind people throughout the world. Her example has given them hope, that they dont have to get discouraged and give up and be useless just because they have such severe handicaps. She once said:
I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God!
Gods ways are sometimes mysterious, and we dont always understand the reason behind everything He does. But one thing we can be sure of is that the Lord always has a reason and a purpose, and if for some reason He doesnt deliver us from some handicap or affliction, it is because He knows that for some reason or other, it is good for us to have them.
Its true that Gods Love does not always keep us from suffering and trials, but it is a Love that always keeps us through sufferings and trials. And lets never forget that the trials and storms of life no more indicate the absence of God than clouds indicate the absence of the sun!
SONG: MOST RICHLY BLESSED
Introduction: (C-F-C)
Sometimes I(G)wonder when things go so(C)wrong,
Has God for(G)saken and(F)left me a(G)lone?
(C)Then I remember through trials and dis(F)tress
Hes always(C)with me,
Im(G)most richly(C)blessed.(F-C)
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey,
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things,
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise ...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God ...
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things ...
I got nothing that I asked for -- but everything that I had hoped for, and almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
(F)Hes always(C)with me,
Im(G)most richly(C)blessed.(F-C)
The cocoon of the emperor moth is flask-shaped. In order for the perfect insect to appear, it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon in hours of intense struggling. It is believed that the pressure to which the moths body is subjected is a provision of nature for forcing the juices into the vessels of the moths wings, enabling it to fly.
A person was once witnessing this struggle, and out of pity, took some scissors and snipped the confining threads of the cocoon to make the moths exit easier. But the moths wings never developed, and it spent its brief span of life crawling around on the ground instead of flying through the air on rainbow wings.
So look not with false pity on Gods children who suffer. As men were inclined to be shortsighted. Rather, look for the good that will come out of it! For if we did not have to sometimes struggle against the hardships and adversities of life, our personalities would never develop to their fullest! People thrive on troubles! Ease and comfort and applause only leave them barren. Trials bring out the best in us, ease doesnt!
Its like the ancient account of a Greek soldier who had a painful disease that was likely at any time to kill him. So, because he expected to die at any moment, he became completely fearless in battle! He had nothing to lose. His general, Antigonus, so admired his bravery that he had him cured of his disease by the best physicians. But from then on, the once-valiant soldier was no longer seen at the front! He avoided danger and tried his best to protect his life instead of risking it! His affliction had made him fight well, but health and comfort destroyed his usefulness as a soldier!
How true it is that the average man can stand adversity better than prosperity! And the calm which puts us to sleep may be more fatal than the storm which keeps us awake!
One thing certain about trials is that they always change our relationship with God. Either they drive us away from Him, or they drive us closer to Him! In fact, God sometimes lets people fail if He knows it will drive them to Him.
God sometimes puts us in the dark to prove to us that He is Light! So when God is allowing you to go through a trial, Hes probably doing it so you will cry out to Him and be drawn closer to Him.
How our trials and sufferings drive us closer to God can be pictured by the vine whose twining tendrils cling to the oak even during the fiercest of storms! If the vine is on the side of the tree opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection; and if it is on the exposed side, the tempest only presses the vine closer to the trunk!
And so it is in some of the storms of life, that God intervenes and shelters us; while in others He allows us to be exposed, so that we will be pressed more closely to Him!
Sometimes Im sad, I know not why.
My heart is torn apart.
It seems the burdens of this world
Have settled on my heart.
And yet I know ... I know that God
Who doeth all things right
Will lead me thus to understand
To walk by faith ... not sight.
And though I do not see the way
Hes planned for me to go ...
The way seems dark to me just now.
But oh, Im sure He knows!
Today He guides my feeble step
Tomorrow is His right ...
He has asked me to never fear ...
But walk by faith ... not sight.
Someday the mists will roll away.
The sun will shine again.
Ill see the beauty in the flowers,
Ill hear the birds refrain.
And then Ill know my Fathers hand
Has led the way to light
Because I placed my hand in His
And walked by faith ... not sight.
SONG: IF WE COULD SEE BEYOND TODAY
Introduction: (Bm-C#-F#m-Am)
If(E)we could see beyond today as(B)God can see,
If(B7)all the clouds should roll away, the(E)shadows flee,
Oer(Bm)present griefs we(C#)would not fret,
Each (F#m)sorrow we would(Am)soon forget,
For(E)many joys are(C#m)waiting yet
(E)For(B)you and(E)me.
(Bm-F#m-Am)
If(E)we could know beyond today as(B)God doth know,
Why(B7)dearest treasures pass away and(E)tears must flow,
And(Bm)why the darkness(C#)leads to light,
Why(F#m)dreary days will(Am)soon grow bright.
Some(E)day lifes wrongs will(C#m)be made right --
(E)Faith(B)tells us(E)so.
Instrumental: (Bm-F#m-Am-E-C#m-E-C)
If(F)we could see, if we could know, we(C)often say,
But(C7)God in love a veil doth throw a(F)cross our way.
We(Cm)cannot see what(Eb)lies before
And(Gm)so we cling to(Bbm)Him the more.
He(F)leads us till this(Dm)life is oer --
(F)Trust(C)and o(F)bey. (Bb-Bbm)
He(F)leads us till this(Dm)life is oer --
(F)Trust(C)and o(F)bey. (G-F)
>>>>>>SIDE 2<<<<<<
Sometimes it helps to ask yourself a few questions when youre in the midst of some trial and you cant see the light! Everything seems dark all around you and the world seems to come tumbling in upon you. Try to enumerate all the things you still have! Try to count the things that mean something to you, the blessings that you have! Try to see the positive in every situation! Try to tell yourself the many ways in which it could have been worse!
Ask yourself, What lesson can I learn from this? Why did it happen? Was it my fault? Could I do better next time?
Of course, sometimes God allows things to happen that disappoint or look bad to us, not just to teach us a lesson or as a loving chastisement, but because He mercifully wants to spare us from serious danger or trouble that we would get ourselves into were things to go our own way! Often God does not answer our prayers the way we want Him to because He sees ahead, and knows that our desires would hurt and harm us if we were to get them! The following story is a simple illustration of this point:
One stormy winter night in 1910, a group of traveling Christian musicians arrived at the city of Riga, on the Baltic Sea, to fulfill a concert engagement.
However, the weather was so bad, and the concert hall so far out of town, that the conductor of the orchestra tried to persuade the manager of the music hall to cancel the concert. He felt that no one would venture out on such a terribly stormy and wild night!
However, the manager refused to cancel, but he agreed that if no one turned up, then the orchestra could leave early in order to catch the night boat for Helsinki, Finland.
When the musicians arrived at the concert hall, they found only one person sitting in the audience, a stout old gentleman who seemed to smile at everyone.
Because of this old music-lover, the musicians were forced to play the entire concert! And they were, therefore, unable to leave early and catch the boat.
After the concert was over, the old man continued to keep his seat. Thinking he was asleep, the usher nudged his shoulder. Only then was it discovered that the old man was not alive! The musicians had played an entire concert for a dead man!
But in doing this, they had also saved their lives. For the boat they would have taken to Helsinki went down that stormy night, and all on board were drowned! -- So although His children in that orchestra had earnestly hoped to avoid playing that concert so that they could catch the boat, the Lord knew better than they did, and used these seemingly disappointing circumstances to spare them from disaster! So you see ...
Things dont just happen to children of God
Theyre part of a wonderful plan;
The troubles, the reverses, the sorrows, the rod
Are strokes of the Great Sculptors hand!
Persecution, tribulation come down like a storm,
Friends disappoint and withstand,
At last alone, bewildered, forlorn,
You look and He smiles, This is planned.
No matter what happens to those called His Own,
Events that are awful or grand;
Every trial of your life He sends from His throne;
So that all things that happen are planned.
So always remember that no matter what hard turns your road may take, Jesus is with you, He cares and He will somehow work even the seemingly darkest and most discouraging circumstances together for your good! -- And when it looks like all is lost and youve finally come to the end of the road, you will find instead that its just a bend in the road!
SONG: BEND IN THE ROAD
Introduction: (G-D/F#-Em-Am-C-D) Repeat
When you(G)feel you have(D/F#))nothing left to (Em)
give,(D-
Em)And youre(Am)sure that the(C)song has(D)ended,
And it(G)seems theres no(D/F#)reason left to(Em)live(D-Em)And the(Am)darkness of(C)night has des(D)cended.
Bridge:
(C)Where can you go to find the(G)strength
You(Em)need to keep on(Am)tryin?(C)
Where can you find the hand thatll(G)dry
The(Em)tears your heart is(Am)cryin?(C-D)
When youre(G)filled with(D/F#)hopelessness and (Em)sorrow,(D-Em)
(Am)Looking at what(C)seems to be the(D)end,
God will(G)whisper,(D/F#)Wait until to(Em)morrow,(D-Em)
This(Am)heartbreak is(C)only a(D)bend in the(Em)road.
(Bend in the(D)road), bend in the(Em)road,
(Bend in the(D)road), bend in the(G)road.(D/F#-Em)
(Ooo-(D)Ooo-(Em)ooo-(Am)ooo-(C)ooo)(D)
The(G)road will con(D/F#)tinue past the(Em)bend(D-Em)
And youll(Am)sing as you(C)go on your(D)journey,
And(G)hope in your(D/F#)heart will burn a(Em)gain(D-Em)
As you(Am)see the light for(C)which youre (D)yearning.
Repeat Bridge
Be(G)comforted to(D/F#)know the Lord is(Em)with you,(D-Em)
Hes(Am)closer than(C)any other(D)friend.
He whispers(G)to your(D/F#)heart to reas(Em)sure you(D-Em)
That(Am)happiness is(C)just around the(D)bend in the(Em)road.
(Bend in the(D)road), bend in the(Em)road,
(Bend in the(D)road), bend in the(G)road.(D/F#-Em)
(Ooo-(D)Ooo-(Em)ooo-(Am)ooo-(C)ooo)(D-G)
So dont worry! No matter how severe your trials and tribulations may be, youve only come to a bend, not the end of the road. And you can be sure that God will never permit any troubles to come upon you unless He has a specific plan by which a great blessing can come out of the difficulty!
God promises us in the Bible, All things work together for good to them that love God. A-L-L, all! He will never let anything happen to you, His child, except that which is for your good! Of course, you may be tempted to feel like, Goodness gracious! -- A lot of things have happened that dont look very good to me! Well, I dare say that you finally found out sooner or later that somehow or another they were good for you. -- Or you will yet! -- Like the man who recounts this true story:
Have you ever gone to your parked car and found a traffic ticket on it? The experience doesnt make one feel so happy! For years, I had been parking my car in a small side street near my home. Neither I, nor others doing likewise, had ever been ticketed, as there was no regulation against parking there. However, going out one morning to my surprise, I found a ticket on my car! Reluctantly, I paid the three-dollar fine. At first, I was hesitant to include the unpleasant experience amongst the all things which the Bible says work together for good to Gods children. But a few days later, I saw the hand of God in the experience. During a sudden wind storm a mammoth oak tree blew down and fell right across the very spot where I had been parking my car for years! Had my car been in its usual place, it would have been smashed right in the middle! I humbly thanked God for the fact that nothing of a chance nature can ever befall one of His children.
As the writer, William S. Plumer, said, All real evil is averted from the people of God, or is so controlled as in the end to do them good!
The story is told of a little boy who made a boat. He went off in high spirits to sail it on the water. But presently it got beyond his reach. In his distress, he appealed to a big boy for help, asking him to get it back for him. Saying nothing, the big boy picked up stones, and seemingly threw them at the boat! The little boy thought that now he would never get his boat back, and that instead of helping him, the big boy was annoying him and trying to sink his treasured toy! But soon he noticed that instead of hitting the boat, each stone went beyond it, and made a little wave, which moved the boat a little nearer to the shore! Every throw of the stones was planned, and at last the little boat was brought within reach! How happy the little boy was! Again he was in possession of his treasure!
The Lord often allows seemingly bad things to happen to us to draw us closer to Him, to keep us humble and more dependent on Him, such as what the Bible calls chastenings, or spankings from the Lord. Like any good father, it hurts the Lord to see His children disobey and go astray, because He loves us, and He knows that our disobedience and wrong-doings hurt us. So He tries in love to correct us. He says, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. As the saying goes,
God loves His people when He strikes them as well as when He strokes them!
And those whom God loves He takes to pieces; and then puts them together again.
Another reason that the Lord sometimes allows seemingly bad things to happen to us is simply to humble us and break us so that He can remake us into what He wants us to be! God makes us by breaking us!
Everyone who has ever been of any real use to the Lord had to first be broken, humbled and brought virtually to the end of themselves. Otherwise, they would be too proud and self-confident in their own fleshly talents and natural abilities, and would take the glory to themselves if God were to use them.
Its strange how few broken things are useful, but God uses only broken people. God only uses that which has been humbled, broken, melted, remolded and remade -- a vessel which is marred in the hands of the Potter and broken, that He may make of it a better vessel!
Have Thine Own way, Lord,
Have Thine Own way,
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
After Thy Will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.
SONG: THE MAKING OF A MAN
Introduction:
(A)(The(C#m)making of a man,(A)the (C#m)making of a man.)
(A)I walked down memry lane to(F#m)day,
Reliving moments of the(A)past,
I saw the making of a(Bm)man
(D)And the joy that came at(Bm)last.
(A)Shattered hopes and broken(F#m)dreams
Marked the pages as they(A)turned,
I saw the making of a(Bm)man
(D)From the lessons that hed(Bm)learned.
(A)Every heartache through the years
(Through the years)
Had been sent by Gods Own(F#m)hand
(Gods Own hand)
And the shedding of those(D)tears were
Chorus:
The making of a(A)man,
The breaking of a(C#m)heart,
How God can take a(Bm)life
And give it a new(D)start.
If youll just believe all things are(A)possible!
Oh, what God can(Bm)do
If youre willing to go (D)through
The making of a(A)man.
((C#m)The making of a man,
(A)the(C#m)making of a man).
(A)And each trial along the(F#m)way
Brought him closer to the(A)Lord,
He was strengthened day by(Bm)day
(D)As he learned to love Him(Bm)more.
(A)Through it all shone bright and clear (bright and clear)
From these memries of the(F#m)past (the memories)
How Gods Love had used each(D)tear
To make a better man at(Bm)last.(Dm)
Chorus:
The making of a(A)man,
The breaking of a(C#m)heart,
How God can take a(Bm)life
And give it a new(D)start.
If youll just believe all things are(A)possible!
Oh, what God can(Bm)do
If youre willing to go(D)through
The making of a(A)man.
Oh, what God can(Bm)do
If youre willing to go(D)through
The making of a(A)man.
Suffering either makes you sweet and better -- or sour and bitter! It humbles you or hardens you, one extreme or the other!
Everyone has tests and temptations and trials and tribulations of some form or another, but its how you handle them that makes the difference!
We can avoid becoming bitter or resentful about our trials and sufferings if we realize that our great Heavenly Father, the Spirit of Love of the entire universe, will never allow any evil to come into our life unless He can in some way make it turn out for good!
And this is the wonderful secret that makes burdens become blessings, and trials become triumphs, and crosses become crowns. -- The knowledge that no matter what we go through, it will somehow turn out for our good! This is the wonderful plan that God has for us and the gift that He has given us who believe in Jesus and are His children. If we are saved, we can even welcome problems and suffering, because we know theres a wise and wonderful reason for each and every test and trial!
However, those who do not know the Lord, and are not saved and follow only the evil ways of this world, are not so fortunate! The Devil, whom the Bible calls the god of this world, is not merciful and is not loving. In fact, he is the Destroyer who always seeks to hinder, harm and tear down. Burdens and trials in the lives of those who follow him this way are destructive, senseless and meaningless, and only for the purpose of destroying and tearing them down.
But everything that happens to the child of God always has somewhere a ray of hope! The storm always has a rainbow! The night always has its stars! The clouds always have a silver lining! Gods loving care is always present in any circumstance! -- And even when it cannot be seen, faith knows that God is there. For the child of God there is always a good and wonderful purpose behind suffering. -- A blessing in disguise!
Nevertheless, problems with all of their advantages and lessons and blessings, sometimes do tend to discourage us and weigh us down and often tempt us to despair. One of the best ways for keeping our cheerfulness and our balance in times of stress and adversity is the attitude we take toward our problems. For an example, lets take the story of the small boy who sat quietly in a seat of a train running between two of the Western cities in the United States. It was a hot, dusty day, very uncomfortable for travelling, and that particular ride was perhaps the most uninteresting days journey in the whole land. But the little fellow sat patiently watching the fields and the fences hurrying by, until a motherly old lady, leaning forward, asked sympathetically, Arent you tired of the long ride, Dear, and the dust and the heat? The lad looked up brightly, and replied, with a smile, Yes, Maam, a little. But I dont mind it much, because my father is going to meet me when I get to the end of it! What a beautiful thought it is that when life seems wearisome and monotonous and burdensome as it sometimes does, we can look forward hopefully and trustingly, and like the little lad, not mind it much because our Father, too, will be waiting to meet us at our journeys end. The Lord will meet us at the end of lifes journey -- thank God!
Well, we hope that this tape will inspire you to rise above your sufferings, to value them, even to welcome them, and that you will be encouraged to know that for the child of God there is a good and wonderful purpose behind the things you suffer, and that in reality they are a blessing in disguise!
And finally, lets not forget that Jesus suffered everything that we suffer. The Bible says that He was tempted in all points just like we are. There were times when He was sick and He was tired and He was hungry and He was thirsty and He was discouraged -- think of that!
Jesus Himself knows what its like to suffer! In fact, He suffered more than any of us can ever even imagine! He suffered for all the sins of all the world, because He loves us so much and was willing to even die for us! And some day soon, Gods Word promises us, all the suffering for those who love God will come to an end, and He shall wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for all the evil of this world shall be passed away! -- When Jesus Himself returns to Earth to right all wrongs and establish His eternal Kingdom of Love and Peace!
But until that day, we will have to endure some suffering. But if you have Jesus in your heart, if you do your best to love Him and follow His teachings, as written in the Bible, you will find that the joy and happiness that will pervade and fill your life will far outweigh any temporary times of sorrow, suffering, testing and trial. -- And that as we have seen, God will work all of these things together for your good!
And when hard times do come, the Lord promises us in His Word, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee! When thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. -- And youll find that no matter how deep the floods of pain and sorrow, or how hot the fires of trial and affliction, Jesus is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother, and if you put your hand in His, trust in Him and depend upon His Word, He will lovingly lead you, and safely see you, through it all!
SONG: THROUGH IT ALL!
Introduction: (C)
(C)Ive had many tears and sorrows,
(Cmaj7)Ive had questions for tomorrow,
(C7)Thereve been times I didnt know right from(F)wrong.
(Fm)But in every situation
(C)God gave blessed consolation,
(Dm)That my trials only(G)come to make me(C)strong.
(C)Ive been to lots of places
And(Cmaj7)you know Ive seen a lot of faces,
(C7)Thereve been times Ive felt so all a(F)lone.
(Fm)But in my lonely hours,
(C)Yes, those precious lonely hours,
(Dm)Jesus let me(G)know I was His(C)Own.
Chorus:
(C)Through it all,(F)through it all,
Ive(G)learned to trust in Jesus
And Ive(C)learned to trust in God!
Through it all,(F)through it all,
Ive(G)learned to depend upon His(C)Word!
(C)I thank God for the mountains,
(Cmaj7)And I thank Him for the valleys,
(C7)And I thank Him for the storms He brought me(F)through.
(Fm)For if Id never had a problem
(C)Id never know that my God could solve them,
(Dm)and Id never know what(G)faith in God could(C)do!
Repeat Chorus twice
Would you like to receive Jesus and personally experience His great Love that will forever protect and keep you and lead you and guide you through it all? You can! -- By simply praying this short prayer with me:
Dear Jesus, I know that I need help and that I cant save myself. I believe that You are the Son of God, and that through You, I can personally know Your loving Father. Jesus, I need Your Love to cleanse me from all fear and hate; I need Your Light to drive away all darkness; I need Your Peace to calm my troubled mind. You promised in Your Word that if Id open the door of my heart, You would come in. So I now open my heart to You, and I ask You, Jesus, to please come in and give me Your free gift of Eternal Life. Thank You, Jesus, for suffering for all of the wrongs I have done, and for forgiving me, and hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus name, amen.
For more inspiring tapes and literature, write us today at the address on the cassette jacket. God bless you! We love you!