Today I’m sharing a message from my brother Chaplain Larry the “Wolfman”. This is a treasure of information!

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted” (Psalm 119:71)
Although trials, affliction, distress, and difficult times are not pleasant when they come, the Lord has a definite purpose for each of His children. God allows us to go through times of trouble for at least twelve reasons:
Reason #1 That we might become mature Christians (James 1:3,4)
“My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this that the trying of your faith works patience, But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be entire wanting nothing.”
Reason #2 That we might bring honor to Christ at His Coming (1 Peter 1:7) “That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”
Reason #3 That we might bring glory to Him (John 11:3,4)
“Therefore His sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou loves is sick. When Jesus heard that He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
Reason #4 That He might prove/test the real sincerity of our Christian joy  (2 Corinthians 8:2)
“How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
Reason #5. That He might teach His children to depend upon Him alone (II Corinthians 1:9)
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead.”
Reason #6. That we might use them to share the Gospel (Philippians 1:12, I Peter 3:14, 15)
“But I would ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather Unto the furtherance of the Gospel…But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
Reason #7. That we might comfort others (II Corinthians 1:3, 4)
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Reason #8. That we might be corrected by Him (Job 5:17; Proverb 3:11, 12)
“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects, therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty…my son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.”

Reason #9. That He might teach us His Law (Psalm 94:12, 119:71)
“Blessed is the man whom Thou chasten, O Lord, and teaches him out of Thy Law; that Thou may give him rest from the days of adversity until the pit be digged for the wicked.”
Reason #10. That He might pour His Spirit upon us  (I Peter 4:14)
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of; but on your part He is glorified.”
Reason #11. That He might give us the Kingdom (Matthew 5:10-12)
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Reason #12. That we might be partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10)
“For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit that we might be partakers of His holiness.”

God is making us more like His Son through it all, that is the bottom line! So, let us rejoice that He is at work, bringing His will to pass as we joyfully submit to Him and continue to be faithful witnesses for His Son Jesus’ sake. And, please remember, real joy comes from knowing that our names are written down in heaven (Luke 10:20), not from earthly events for this one eternal fact never changes, but be sure, things on this planet are surely in a state of flux!!
Chaplain L.E. ’Wolfman’ Wolfe http://www.prewrath.com I-85 Exit 35 SC ‘McPilot’ Stop in, and please pray for revival!