God's Plan and Promises for His PeopleParaugs

Here's a second area in which God involves Himself in our lives during our trials. The Bible teaches that sometimes God's plan for our happiness leads directly through His woodshed of correction. That's an unhappy thought but with a happy result.

Job 5:17 reminds us, "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."

The psalmist repeats the same principle. "Blessed is the man whom You instruct [chasten], O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity" (Ps. 94:12, 13). The verb for "instruct" means to chasten with words, hence to instruct. The discipline from God's tongue is just as sharp as His rod, but both result in our happiness.

If your boss calls you into his office to chew you out royally, be honest—happiness is not the first thing that comes to your mind. Usually, we get angry on such occasions. But when God corrects us, His purpose is not to hurt us or make us angry but to make us happy. Such chastening is part of God's plan for our happiness—not to mention a sign of His deep affection for us.

It's little wonder that we are happiest when God involves Himself in our lives, even if it means correction.

A third area in which God involves Himself in the trials of our lives is when He allows us to suffer for the sake of what is right.

Sometimes our trials are of our own making; other times are tailor-made by those who live wickedly. That's when it's good to know that even suffering is part of God's plan for our happiness.

I Peter 3:14 says, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, or be troubled."

Do you remember what Jesus said in His beatitudes? "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled… Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven" (Matt. 5:6,10-12).

Strange words! Imagine linking "persecuted" and "blessed" together in the same sentence. Or better still, imagine the call to rejoice and be glad—not just glad but exceedingly glad— because you have suffered for being righteous.

If it strikes you that God's plan for happiness is quite different from the world's plan, you are right. What the world views as tragic, God considers blessed. What the world believes to be the basis for happiness—namely the accumulation of wealth and possessions—God counts to be the basis for sorrow. Remember the rich young ruler? His money meant more to him than happiness in the Lord, and "he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions" (Mark 10:22).