Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. James 1:9-10
There are times when we as believers will have to go down before going up. The above scriptures talk about various circumstances as believers where one brother is in a humbling circumstance and how that person ought to rejoice because the next step will be for him to be exalted.
The other brother is rich and he should also rejoice because he will be made low. In this world that we live in, the humbling experience is often despised, while the season of richness and fulness is celebrated, but in the kingdom of God we ought to celebrate both circumstances because both circumstances are necessary. The humbling experience is necessary to produce the humility that we will need in our season of fullness. The richness is necessary to give us faith for something to look forward to while in our seasons of humbling circumstance. Both of these seasons are necessary as believers and produce the fruit of depending on and acknowledging God in every season whether up or down abounding or in abasement. Apostle Paul said that he learned how to live in both seasons and that is how through the process of humility and exaltation. Whatever season that we may be in our process in life, we can be sure that God is faithful to provide the strength and grace for us to go on to the next season.
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
We have to become as children as Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 18 when they are debating among themselves who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Basically, Jesus interrupts their train of thought causing them not to focus on being the greatest as they understand, but being like a child who knows that he must depend on his parents for everything just as we must depend on the Lord the author and finisher of our faith. When we get lifted up in pride, and decide to go after vain-glory, and our perspectives shifts to that of the world and this carnal nature, that is when we can begin to rejoice knowing that God will allow humbling circumstances to come and shift our perspective to that of a child who looks up to his God who made him as children look to their parents who made them and are greater than them.
Even Jesus the head of the body of Christ humbled himself as a man finding himself in the fashion of a man although he was God in the flesh. Afterward, he was highly exalted above all that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow and every month confess that he is Lord (Philippians 2:5-9).
If you are in a humbling circumstance right now, get happy because God will next begin to exalt you. Sometimes, when God exalts us, it’s hard to remember the pain of the humbling experience that we had to go through to get there because God has done such a great work.
That’s how the Lord does. He gives us beauty for ashes and restores the joy of those who place their trust in him. So, be encouraged as you ride the waves of life going up and also going down.
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