Yeah, sure, you like to say that his glory and your good are the same, but then he talks large scale and so that means good on a cosmic level. Like in a big picture other-side-from-this-life way. For now, holy misery is what he's after. For you, anyway.
Because, really, look around. You know some people with screwed up lives or health problems or whatever, but most people like where they are and what they're doing. You don't get to. You're going to be trapped in mediocrity for years because you're lazy, and you're too late (good grief, almost thirty, how many works of literature had Jane Austen published by thirty?), and you're not better at anything than anybody. There's always somebody better than you, somewhere in the world. Grace, love, blahblahblah, all of life is competition, really, and you're not tier one material.
What he probably wants is for you to take a long series of dead-end jobs, at less and less pay because you're horrible at negotiating and all that business stuff. Then maybe eventually he'll have you break down and get married to the first person who'll have you. This guy'll be boring and uninspiring and passionless and you'll be able to run circles around him in every way and the only reason he'll take you is because you're not the dating kind (the fun kind), you're the marrying kind (the kind you settle for because you're desperate and you're tired of hearing about eHarmony). But hey, that's holy misery for you.
He wants to bless you, sure, sure. Spiritually. Growth is pain. Life is pain, princess. Don't let anybody sell you different.
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Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.
Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Do not be anxious then, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask him!
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 16:23, 14:27b, 5:4, 5:6, 16:25, 6:19-21, 6:31-34, 7:7-11, 11:28)
1 comment:
This was a very provoking piece, Suz ... good kind of provoking ... hmmm ...
I've been reading "Screwtape" just a little at a time because it's not really my type of read ~ it's a stretch for me ...
Please keep writing.
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