Position over Condition

[NetChaplain]

The Christians “condition” is how they are doing? Are they maintaining and enduring trials or complaining about them? It’s ok to wonder and maybe complain, but the less we allow a trial to move us, the more we mature in “the image of Christ” (Rom 8:29; 2Co 3:18). We are not to forget our unmoved “position” in the Lord Jesus. Regardless of the difficulty, we are still permanently forgiven, and God will show us this no matter how you are going through a trial or trials.

Our position in the Lord Jesus cannot possibly change, we are always in the same place with Him—forgiven! Our condition is ever changing, and it is the difference in the level of our difficulties that God teaches us the most concerning how we will use our faith. How we use our faith manifests the most to others who we are.

Thankfully, “God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able:” no man can be tempted, afflicted, or persecuted by men, but by a divine permission, and that voluntary (Job 1:7; 2:2); nor more than, or above that measure which God hath predetermined; Who proportions the affliction to the strength He determines and promises to give, and does give, and the strength of His people to the temptation or affliction He suffers to befall them; for which His faithfulness is engaged, having promised that as their day is, their strength shall be; that He will never leave them nor forsake them, and that He will bear, and carry, and save them unto the uttermost, and that they shall hold on and out unto the end.”—John Gill (1697-1771)

-NC

 

[Lynx]

It helps to keep two things firmly in mind.

1. Money, reputation, health and such things are important - even the Bible says they are important - but we are going to lose them all when we die. They are only useful while we are alive. Thus their importance, while real, is limited.

2. Trials can hurt, but they cannot affect anything we will take with us when we die. All they can affect are things we will eventually lose anyway.

 

[NetChaplain]

It helps to keep two things firmly in mind.

1. Money, reputation, health and such things are important - even the Bible says they are important - but we are going to lose them all when we die. They are only useful while we are alive. Thus their importance, while real, is limited.

2. Trials can hurt, but they cannot affect anything we will take with us when we die. All they can affect are things we will eventually lose anyway.

Thanks L!

 

[jacko]

Can you drink the cup that Lord wants you to drink if that cup means you have a lot of earthly suffering? Are you willing to do it.
How many can really say they are.... Voluntarily...

 

[Watchman22]

The Christians “condition” is how they are doing? Are they maintaining and enduring trials or complaining about them? It’s ok to wonder and maybe complain, but the less we allow a trial to move us, the more we mature in “the image of Christ” (Rom 8:29; 2Co 3:18). We are not to forget our unmoved “position” in the Lord Jesus. Regardless of the difficulty, we are still permanently forgiven, and God will show us this no matter how you are going through a trial or trials.

Our position in the Lord Jesus cannot possibly change, we are always in the same place with Him—forgiven! Our condition is ever changing, and it is the difference in the level of our difficulties that God teaches us the most concerning how we will use our faith. How we use our faith manifests the most to others who we are.

Thankfully, “God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able:” no man can be tempted, afflicted, or persecuted by men, but by a divine permission, and that voluntary (Job 1:7; 2:2); nor more than, or above that measure which God hath predetermined; Who proportions the affliction to the strength He determines and promises to give, and does give, and the strength of His people to the temptation or affliction He suffers to befall them; for which His faithfulness is engaged, having promised that as their day is, their strength shall be; that He will never leave them nor forsake them, and that He will bear, and carry, and save them unto the uttermost, and that they shall hold on and out unto the end.”—John Gill (1697-1771)

-NC

In serving the Lord for 38 years, it's taken a toll on my physical body.

Does anyone have any advice on how to glory in that kind of affliction?

 

[NetChaplain]

In serving the Lord for 38 years, it's taken a toll on my physical body.

Does anyone have any advice on how to glory in that kind of affliction?

How has this comeabout?

 

[Watchman22]

How has this comeabout?

That's a hard question to answer without giving an entire testimony.

I began the walk of faith in 1987, so. Cal.
It started by me making a covenant, a contract with God. This was started, maintained, and soon will be completed by making a personal surrender to Him and living a life inspired by such surrender, every day, all day if needed.

I didn't understand at the time, but this surrender and making decisions that support that surrender is the exact definition of pisteuo in the Greek texts.

I continued this daily surrender , and making decisions that showed God i really do consider my life to be his now. Then something started to happen, I didn't realize it at the time, all I knew for sure is I felt his presence and it was overwhelming. I knew this had something to do with the daily surrender and the decisions that backed it up. So I did what anyone would do, I started surrendering my life to Him more and more, making better decisions that supported it.

The more i fulfilled what I would later learn is NT saving faith, the more things happened. The greatest being the mind of Christ.

So with that foundation laid, there is something that happens to those who enter into this state, and inevitable accompaniment. This inevitable accompaniment is the desire to give. Giving is all you want to do. It's like a hose that's been pinched off with the pressure building behind it. If you don't release it, it's going to blow, at least it feels like that.

Now the answer to your question. My gift or tool to quench this desire to give was through masonry work. Brick, block, stone, concrete, commercial or residential, all i did until 2013 was empty everything i had into being the best at what I did to produce a product people wanted. That would allow me the money to quench the level of giving i was experiencing. I was declared 100% disabled in 2013. I've been to 12 surgeons over the years to beg for help with my neck and low back to no avail.

So here I am, in 2026 with a neck that needs 5 fusions , and a low back that needs 3 fusions and nobody will touch me. My wife is also disabled and requires a daily commitment from me to live.

So ive been surrendering my life to Him and living a life inspired by such surrender for 38 years. And I have in my mind His Spirit, His mind, and a level of pain i would wish on my worst enemy, all at the same time. My level of pain is mirroring the level of Him inside me, step for step.

So, any advice on how to glory in this state? I wouldn't change a thing. I just want to be complete. Im not bitter or angry, just incomplete without the genuine ability to glory in this state.

Thanks for the reply NC, I know you don't do that often.

 

[JaumeJ]

Prying for you from here, and I know others ae also.

 

[JaumeJ]

Praying for you!!

 

[jacko]

That's a hard question to answer without giving an entire testimony.

I began the walk of faith in 1987, so. Cal.
It started by me making a covenant, a contract with God. This was started, maintained, and soon will be completed by making a personal surrender to Him and living a life inspired by such surrender, every day, all day if needed.

I didn't understand at the time, but this surrender and making decisions that support that surrender is the exact definition of pisteuo in the Greek texts.

I continued this daily surrender , and making decisions that showed God i really do consider my life to be his now. Then something started to happen, I didn't realize it at the time, all I knew for sure is I felt his presence and it was overwhelming. I knew this had something to do with the daily surrender and the decisions that backed it up. So I did what anyone would do, I started surrendering my life to Him more and more, making better decisions that supported it.

The more i fulfilled what I would later learn is NT saving faith, the more things happened. The greatest being the mind of Christ.

So with that foundation laid, there is something that happens to those who enter into this state, and inevitable accompaniment. This inevitable accompaniment is the desire to give. Giving is all you want to do. It's like a hose that's been pinched off with the pressure building behind it. If you don't release it, it's going to blow, at least it feels like that.

Now the answer to your question. My gift or tool to quench this desire to give was through masonry work. Brick, block, stone, concrete, commercial or residential, all i did until 2013 was empty everything i had into being the best at what I did to produce a product people wanted. That would allow me the money to quench the level of giving i was experiencing. I was declared 100% disabled in 2013. I've been to 12 surgeons over the years to beg for help with my neck and low back to no avail.

So here I am, in 2026 with a neck that needs 5 fusions , and a low back that needs 3 fusions and nobody will touch me. My wife is also disabled and requires a daily commitment from me to live.

So ive been surrendering my life to Him and living a life inspired by such surrender for 38 years. And I have in my mind His Spirit, His mind, and a level of pain i would wish on my worst enemy, all at the same time. My level of pain is mirroring the level of Him inside me, step for step.

So, any advice on how to glory in this state? I wouldn't change a thing. I just want to be complete. Im not bitter or angry, just incomplete without the genuine ability to glory in this state.

Thanks for the reply NC, I know you don't do that often.

Like I stated, can you drink this cup of suffering? Can you do it gladly? Do you have a choice..

 

[Watchman22]

Like I stated, can you drink this cu suffering? Can you do it gladly? Do you have a choice..

My choice as I see it was to respond to the call of the Father by faith and faithing, by a personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender. Making the covenant, the contract with Him.

Would i have done it knowing what was ahead? Absolutely! Knowing that there was a undeniable response happening by Him, there is nothing i wouldn't have done to keep that relationship going.

Doing it gladly is where I'm just being honest, it's very difficult. Part of the difficulty is how the brain responds to a high level of pain that rarely subsides. For many years I just kept pushing, getting more used to dealing with pain. Then at one point my brain just said , I'm not doing this anymore and introduced me to anxiety. That was the level where I started loosing the battle.

I don't know where I would be without His Spirit, and the mind of Christ. I lean on that and the continually surrendered life constantly.

 

[NetChaplain]

So, any advice on how to glory in this state? I wouldn't change a thing. I just want to be complete. I'm not bitter or angry, just incomplete without the genuine ability to glory in this state.

Thanks for the reply NC, I know you don't do that often.

Hi WM! I can't compare your problems with the worst difficulty I've been through, but I've learned everything that happens is either by God's causing or His allowance. I believe He controls all outcomes in everyone's life, thus it is always difficult to wonder why certain things are the way they are.

For example, I have a 37 year old son that has been overtaken by anxiety for 20 years now and is not getting better; he says he thinks it's getting worse. He had a wife but about 12 years ago he had to divorce because of this problem. He has a daughter and son and he and his son has been living with us for 10 years.

Of-course I don't know why God has allowed for this to go so long, but since I have no physical pain it's easy for me to always know, no matter what, "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). A year ago I went through very serious pain in my feet for 5 months with foot neuropathy, they felt like I was standing on blocks of ice and I couldn't get them warm regardless of what I did. The doctor I had couldn't find a medicine for me that worked until I finally found a doctor that could help me.

I have no way of knowing what to do for my son, but I do believe that regardless of what occurs, God is controlling the outcome of it all. We can wonder why a trial might take so long or not go the way we wished, but even when we don't know what to think, He will
"keep you from evil" and "keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory " (2Th 3:3; Jde 1:24).

God bless you and your Family!

 

[Watchman22]

Hi WM! I can't compare your problems with the worst difficulty I've been through, but I've learned everything that happens is either by God's causing or His allowance. I believe He controls all outcomes in everyone's life, thus it is always difficult to wonder why certain things are the way they are.

For example, I have a 37 year old son that has been overtaken by anxiety for 20 years now and is not getting better; he says he thinks it's getting worse. He had a wife but about 12 years ago he had to divorce because of this problem. He has a daughter and son and he and his son has been living with us for 10 years.

Of-course I don't know why God has allowed for this to go so long, but since I have no physical pain it's easy for me to always know, no matter what, "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). A year ago I went through very serious pain in my feet for 5 months with foot neuropathy, they felt like I was standing on blocks of ice and I couldn't get them warm regardless of what I did. The doctor I had couldn't find a medicine for me that worked until I finally found a doctor that could help me.

I have no way of knowing what to do for my son, but I do believe that regardless of what occurs, God is controlling the outcome of it all. We can wonder why a trial might take so long or not go the way we wished, but even when we don't know what to think, He will
"keep you from evil" and "keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory " (2Th 3:3; Jde 1:24).

God bless you and your Family!

Yours also NetChaplain.

 

[jacko]

My choice as I see it was to respond to the call of the Father by faith and faithing, by a personal surrender to Him and a life inspired by such surrender. Making the covenant, the contract with Him.

Would i have done it knowing what was ahead? Absolutely! Knowing that there was a undeniable response happening by Him, there is nothing i wouldn't have done to keep that relationship going.

Doing it gladly is where I'm just being honest, it's very difficult. Part of the difficulty is how the brain responds to a high level of pain that rarely subsides. For many years I just kept pushing, getting more used to dealing with pain. Then at one point my brain just said , I'm not doing this anymore and introduced me to anxiety. That was the level where I started loosing the battle.

I don't know where I would be without His Spirit, and the mind of Christ. I lean on that and the continually surrendered life constantly.

I learned this from Elizabeth Elliott. Suffering is having something you don't want or not having something you want.
For some in the bible talks about suffering about not having a child. For many, it's about not wanting to have cancer, for others, it wanting a stable job or income. For you it's physical pain after years of toil, everyone suffers in their own way. Of course there degrees of suffering we can only imagine.

If you look at Horacio Spafford, he was a wealthy man, lost all his real estate empire in the great Chicago fire, then lost his first son to illness, then a shit wrecked across the Atlantic killing his next 4 children, then his second son died with the same illness his first son died. We don't know why God allowed this to happen to him in his permissive will. I can't think of anything worse than a child to die before a parent as a father and to lose 6 kids and all your wealth. A modern day Job.

Joni Ericson Tada who is a quadriplegic... another example.. quadriplegic after a diving accident. I can't imagine the fortitude shhe has but through Gods grace she can endure and prosper.

 

[jacko]

Hi WM! I can't compare your problems with the worst difficulty I've been through, but I've learned everything that happens is either by God's causing or His allowance. I believe He controls all outcomes in everyone's life, thus it is always difficult to wonder why certain things are the way they are.

For example, I have a 37 year old son that has been overtaken by anxiety for 20 years now and is not getting better; he says he thinks it's getting worse. He had a wife but about 12 years ago he had to divorce because of this problem. He has a daughter and son and he and his son has been living with us for 10 years.

Of-course I don't know why God has allowed for this to go so long, but since I have no physical pain it's easy for me to always know, no matter what, "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). A year ago I went through very serious pain in my feet for 5 months with foot neuropathy, they felt like I was standing on blocks of ice and I couldn't get them warm regardless of what I did. The doctor I had couldn't find a medicine for me that worked until I finally found a doctor that could help me.

I have no way of knowing what to do for my son, but I do believe that regardless of what occurs, God is controlling the outcome of it all. We can wonder why a trial might take so long or not go the way we wished, but even when we don't know what to think, He will
"keep you from evil" and "keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory " (2Th 3:3; Jde 1:24).

God bless you and your Family!

finitude...

 

[NetChaplain]

finitude...

Hi J, not sure what you're trying to say. God bless!

 

[Watchman22]

Hi WM! I can't compare your problems with the worst difficulty I've been through, but I've learned everything that happens is either by God's causing or His allowance. I believe He controls all outcomes in everyone's life, thus it is always difficult to wonder why certain things are the way they are.

For example, I have a 37 year old son that has been overtaken by anxiety for 20 years now and is not getting better; he says he thinks it's getting worse. He had a wife but about 12 years ago he had to divorce because of this problem. He has a daughter and son and he and his son has been living with us for 10 years.

Of-course I don't know why God has allowed for this to go so long, but since I have no physical pain it's easy for me to always know, no matter what, "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh 8:10). A year ago I went through very serious pain in my feet for 5 months with foot neuropathy, they felt like I was standing on blocks of ice and I couldn't get them warm regardless of what I did. The doctor I had couldn't find a medicine for me that worked until I finally found a doctor that could help me.

I have no way of knowing what to do for my son, but I do believe that regardless of what occurs, God is controlling the outcome of it all. We can wonder why a trial might take so long or not go the way we wished, but even when we don't know what to think, He will
"keep you from evil" and "keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory " (2Th 3:3; Jde 1:24).

God bless you and your Family!

Thanks for sharing your experience NetChaplain. In the end we're all kind of in the same boat to some extent.

I've crossed paths with you for many years. My time on these sites started more than 25 years ago. Many different Niks along the way.

I know your a very reserved member that chooses his words carefully, and refrains from confrontation. That's not easy to do in these sites.

I appreciate your input.

 

[NetChaplain]

Thanks for sharing your experience NetChaplain. In the end we're all kind of in the same boat to some extent.

I've crossed paths with you for many years. My time on these sites started more than 25 years ago. Many different Niks along the way.

I know your a very reserved member that chooses his words carefully, and refrains from confrontation. That's not easy to do in these sites.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks for the encouraging comments, and God keep you! Blessed be God!

 

[jacko]

Hi J, not sure what you're trying to say. God bless!

In Simple Terms​

Finitude = Being a creature, not the Creator.
It means:

• We don’t know everything.
• We can’t control everything.
• We don’t live forever on our own.
• We need God.

 

[JaumeJ]

Some words which comfort.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.