Forthright Fixation

Ever had a “pity party”? You may never have called them by that name, but I’m sure you know what I mean. Self pity, despair, and that “Why isn’t life fair?” outlook are attitudes and mindsets to which we’ve all succumbed at times. I’m sorry to say I’ve thrown more than my share of “pity parties” over the past 19 years.

Like any hostess worth her salt, I rarely miss an opportunity to throw one of my well-practiced parties. Whether it be a disappointing grade, lack of achievement, unexpected circumstances, changes in my best-laid plans, or a battle against sin, my first tendency is often to either run to God and demand, “Why?”, or simply wallow in self-pity and cry “Woe is me.” I know, after all, that one of the reasons God does what He does is for my good. But if that’s true, why is He causing this to happen?

Therein lies the trouble.

Besides the truth that God really does work everything out for my good, even if I can’t perceive it in the moment, my pity party reveals an even deeper blindness on my part. I fail to remember the primary reason God does what He does. He does everything for His glory, and my good.

So often, I conveniently forget that His glory is God’s primary reason for doing what He does. Even salvation, the act that did me the most good, was ultimately executed for the glory of God.

“Your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.” 1 John 2:12, ESV

“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25, ESV

“For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.” Psalm 25:11, ESV

The way I view God’s purposes will affect the way I respond to my circumstances.

Though remembering God’s gracious goodness to His people in everything is right and good, when I put my primary focus on trying to find the benefit God intends for me in my circumstances while neglecting to recognize His pursuit of His glory, I can slip into a very self-centered view of the universe. When “trials of various kinds,” and other circumstances I don’t understand arise, and I can’t immediately see their good in my life, I fall quickly into unbelief. Even when clearly good and beneficial circumstances befall me, I often fail to thank God for His grace and keep my eyes open for ways in which He wants to use me to bring glory to Himself.

Having my eyes open to the truth that God’s foremost goal is to glorify and magnify Himself changes my entire outlook towards my circumstances. If everything from a low grade, to my struggle with sin is designed to bring God glory, then my question is no longer, “How can this be good for me, Lord?” but instead, “How can I magnify Your glory in this circumstance?” If God does everything for His glory, there is no room for unbelief, but only thankfulness that God has once again acted in a manner consistent with the greatness and power of who He is.

Asking such questions changes my actions as well. Often our circumstances provide an opportunity to respond to Him in a way that magnifies His glory in a new or unique way. I can praise God for the good grades, but how unique to a child of God to be able to thank Him in spite of the bad grades? I can trust Him when all my plans fall into place, but how confounding to the world to trust God when everything goes wrong?

Let’s learn to praise Him for His work and the opportunities He gives us, even when everything else seems to go awry.

Astonishingly, what God does for His glory also brings me the most good. How gracious of God to orchestrate things that way! John Piper puts it this way,

“The greatest love makes sure that God does everything in such a way as to uphold and magnify His own supremacy so that when we get [to Heaven] we have something to increase our joy forever–God’s glory.”

Friends, let our perspectives be renewed. As we encounter difficult situations, mountains of sin, or overflowing blessings from His hand let us trust Him for His goodness (visible or not), and labor with Him for His glory.

Filed under: Christian Living, God's Glory, Joy in Christ, Trusting God