Putting things in perspective at 3 o'clock in the mornining

I've been having trouble sleeping lately, so a friend of mine gave me some hops so I could make tea for bed time.  He said it would help me sleep good.  I made the tea and added Valarian Root just to make sure it worked.  It didn't.  I tossed and turned until after 11:30pm and now I am wide a wake at 3 am.  To be sure, it is disappointing since I was so exhausted yesterday.

 

 

However, in thinking about the sermon yesterday, I have to put this issue in perspective.  What is the end of it?  The end is that God would be glorified somehow by it.  The end of it is that He would sanctify me through it.  The end of it is the opportuhity for more holiness in my life.  So the question is, am I fighting against what God is trying to do in my life by complaining against it? 

 

 

I'm not saying it is wrong to try to get good sleep by taking herbal remedies or over the counter sleep aids or even going to the doctor for a prescription.  But I am saying that God is ultimately in control here and if the stuff doesn't work, it's because He has ordained that it doesn't work because He has something bigger in mind for me than sleep right now.  It's my sanctificaion and holiness, which is often learned in the crucible of trials.  It's so that He can show me that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness, which often can't happen apart from trials.

 

 

It is interesting that we often like to quote that verse about God's grace being sufficient and His strength being made perfect in weakness. Do we really stop and think about what that means?  His grace is sufficient for what?   It's sufficient to get us through tough times with our faith intact and strengthened..  If we are never in tough times, never suffereing, why would we need His grace?  His strength is made perfect in weakness.  If we never had times of weakness then we'd never need His strength to bolster our faith and get us through it. 

 

 

We only get that extra measure of grace and strength from God when we are in the midst of trials and difficulties.  Otherwise we become too self-sufficient to need it.  This is why God often brings his people through the refining fires.