All of us have gone through periods of time in which we ask, “Why is God putting me through this?” These may be times of tragedy, or hopelessness, or disappointment, or failure. God is not mean or cruel or sadistic when He allows these hurtful situations in our lives. Think of it this way...sometimes the surgeon cuts us, hurts us for the purpose of correcting or removing some impediment to our well-being. Jesus knows our “well-being” is to be one with Him. Here's Jesus' prayer specifically for you and me:

“that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21).

When we realize how deeply we've been affected by sin, it should come as no surprise that sometimes radical “surgery” is necessary so that we are in Christ and He is in us. Not only will we experience the “well-being” of living in closer harmony with God, but our testimony to the world will become obvious.

This is the point of today's My Utmost for His Highest:

“If you are walking a lonely path just now, read John 17. It explains exactly why you are where you are: Jesus has prayed that you may be one with him, as he is one with the Father. Jesus isn't leaving you all alone; he is getting you alone with Him, so that His prayer for oneness might be answered. Do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.

God isn't concerned about our plans. He doesn't say, “Do you want to go through this trial? Do you want to suffer this loss?” He allows things to happen to us for His own purposes. Either the things we go through make us sweeter, better, and nobler, or they make us more critical and fault-finding, more insistent on having our own way. Either trials and difficulties make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely on our relationship with God. We will know that our Father is working according to His wisdom and toward His ends, and this will prevent us from becoming mean and cynical.

Jesus has prayed for nothing less than absolute oneness with Him. Some of us are far from this state of oneness, but we can be sure that, because Jesus has prayed that it may be so, God won't leave us alone until it is.”

The Apostle James puts in perspective for us:
2 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 amp).

Some of us are in the midst of trial today. We've given up hope and are confused. Be assured our trial is allowed by a loving God because He sees some “surgery” is needed. When viewed from this perspective, we have great assurance in this statement: “We will know that our Father is working according to His wisdom and toward His ends, and this will prevent us from becoming mean and cynical.”

My prayer for me and you this day is this: Lord, thank You for loving us and even for the trials that result in our trusting You more...knowing Your desire is that we find peace and well-being in our relationship with You. Help us Lord to make our way through our trial with the knowledge that we are in Your hands. Teach us and heal us for Your name's sake. Amen.

Today's Utmost reminds me of Cyrus Nusbaum's song:

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

His pow'r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
'Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.