Hello dear
Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about the troubles we face – no matter how great or small.
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT
Of course, ‘Long’ is relative to the mindset of the one in trouble. In heavenly, eternal time, our experience would not be much more than a blip. For even decades can’t compare to aeons, and our God Quantified Time. Our tribulations therefore, may indeed be considered momentary and small.
The challenge is, in that moment, it doesn’t always Feel small. Nor do we always have the sense that God is with us. And, feeling bereft of God’s presence, we may make choices about our present troubles that carry even longer term consequences. But let us consider for a moment, the flavor of the teas we drink (including coffee and hot chocolate) is only fully experienced After the addition of hot water. Sweetening is optional.
And so it is with us. Our true nature surfaces when we are in hot water! The sweetener could be seen as the indwelling Spirit of God. Unfortunately, we often act as though God’s Spirit is optional.
Inasmuch as sugar and milk enhances the flavor of the tea of choice; so it is that God’s Spirit enables us to experience the glory of God amidst our troubles. Our inability to fully sense God with us may be indicative of our need to add God’s Spirit through praise and proclamation. Or that breakthrough (aka the greater glory) is almost come.
Some of us have already experienced breakthrough and we have the benefit of hindsight to know that truly God was with us in the trials. Might I invite us to be points of encouragement to others along the way (including ourselves), as living proof of God’s faithfulness and grace; as well as being testimonies of God’s glory that comes after the trials.
May God’s Spirit be felt in our midst today and always.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
