This is all a part of the story...

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A few verses that the LORD has shown me the past few days: 

"Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."  Hebrews 12:9-11

We have all been disciplined by our parents at some point and we learn from it...though it certainly isn't perfect. But God's discipline IS perfect. He desires for us to grow so that we can be "partakers of His holiness." Truth be told: Holiness is what matters to God and the way I respond to the "givens" in my daily life experiences determines my growth in holiness. Our Great God knows that spiritual stamina and continual trust in Him cannot develop without conflict...the Lord is a loving Teacher that wants us to grasp hold of what He has given us;  submissively, humbly, and even courageously realizing that This is all a part of the story, the story of the love of God for me and my love for Him (some snippets from Elizabeth Elliot). 

The purpose of God’s chastening is not punitive but creative. He chastens “that we may share His holiness.” The phrase “that we may share” has direction in it, and the direction points toward a purified and beautified life. The fire which is kindled is not a bonfire, blazing heedlessly and unguardedly, and consuming precious things; it is a refiner’s fire, and the Refiner sits by it, and He is firmly and patiently and gently bringing holiness out of carelessness and stability out of weakness. God is always creating even when He is using the darker means of grace. He is producing the fruits and flowers of the Spirit. His love is always in quest of lovely things 
-Jowett

"In this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while, if need be you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious that gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." I Peter 1:6-8


"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

"The trying things which you fancy come between God and you, will prove means of unity with Him, if you bear them humbly. Those things that overwhelm us and upset our pride, do more good than all that which excites and inspirits us." 
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And so there are areas of my life I can not understand, but instead of resorting to the "why's"...I am learning to accept that this is all a part of the story...His story for my life.

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