Conversations in Heaven About You

Trials are inevitable, but when they come without warning they are like a left hook. An unanticipated devastating punch which not only floors you causing embarrassment, but it also produces shock and awe amazement, mainly because you didn’t see it coming and you couldn’t even prepare for the impact. Whether it’s a common trial or a left hook trial, just know that there was a conversation in heaven about you and your trial.

Don’t believe me? “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, (Genesis 11:7)” a conversation God had with either divine council of heavenly beings or angels, the Holy Trinity or the plural of majesty (royal we) to thwart man’s attempt in making a tower to heaven. “And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’(1 Kings 22:19-23)” a conversation God had with all the host of heaven to send a lying spirit to persuade Ahab.   “Have you considered my servant, (Job 1:8)”  a conversation God had with Satan about Job. These are just three examples of such conversations.

Unlike the first two examples, it is clear that Job feels that he is under a left hook trial: Oxen, donkeys, camels -raided and gone; servants-destroyed by the sword; sons and daughters-crushed and killed; a wife who asks him to curse God and die; boils from head to toe; and to top it all off, three tormenting friends. Job is under attack, but while we are privy to God’s conversation with Satan in Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7, Job is not. A blameless and upright man only knows his life has been disrupted by a series of horrendous trials. Unbeknownst to Job, there have been conversations in Heaven about him. He doesn’t know that God has said, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? (Job 1:8).” Like Job, our trials cause us to question, doubt, become angry, seek solace from close friends, demand God tells us, ‘Why?’ “What did I do to deserve this, Lord?” “Am I being punished?” Finally, we endure, maybe, at some point we acquiesce. Uncle! It is only with an encounter with Jesus that we can take a retrospective look at our trials and see how the Lord has kept us.

God knows what His ultimate goal is for our trails – to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). When we do encounter trials, please realize that we were hand selected, personally recommended, and called by name. It was God approved and God allowed. So, get in the habit of not thinking that some strange thing happened to you (1 Peter 4:12). The good news is that while I have been chosen for this trial, Jesus has me in the palm of His hand and He is in the palm of the Father’s hand. Therefore, I am doubly secured, doubly protected (John 10:28-30) and greatly loved. Yes, the trial will come, and I will endure, but Jesus and my Father  already had a conversation in Heaven about it!

PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, sometimes we really don’t know why a trial has come in our lives, but let us proclaim in any trial, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
By Sis. Paula Smith