“Good Soldier” (2Ti 2:3)

[Netchaplain]

Aah, the refreshing after the trial! I'm glad I'm learning to remember not to allow them to trouble me (Jn 14:1, 27), because there is more taught in going through free-handed than white-knuckling. I feel that I may sometimes still let it get to me a little too much, but I think the most difficult ones are at least quite bothersome. Not that I would feel guilty if I do allow a trial to trouble me, because I do sometimes when off-guard, but only briefly after remembering to "cast" it on God (1Pe 5:7). To me, "casting" involves remembering that He orchestrates everything in our life to result for our good and never for evil; esp. if we think we incurred it, which can be the most difficult to cast on Him. But we rest in knowing that the trials are the largest part of His school of learning.

Regardless of where I feel my maturity should be in the Lord Jesus (Eph 2:21; 4:15; 1Pe 2:2; 2Pe 3:18), or of any type of discouraging word, I have the right—yea the command to "cast all your care on Him!" In all of this, I realize that the sole element keeping me from deviating from these Scriptural principles is the unfailing love of God, shown in His unceasing "work in you" to ever "desire and do of His good pleasure" (instead of the old man's pleasure - Phl 2:13); from which nobody, including self ("Who" Ro 8:35) "nor any other creature" (angel – 8:39) "will separate us." [Notice it does not say "can not," or "may not" but "shall (will) not separate us"]