For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Desire and fulfillment.

Desire and the fulfillment of desire are very important aspects of eternal life. After we have borne our cross for many years, and it seems we never will be granted the desires of our heart, we can begin to grow pessimistic, or angry with God, or fatalistic, or believe that the Christian life is one of imprisonment and denial.

Sometimes we are called to be in prison for a season but never to become a prisoner in personality. One day Joseph served God in prison and the next day he served God as the ruler of Egypt under Pharaoh. Joseph remained cheerful and optimistic, ready to be abased and ready to abound.

Each one of God's elect is a ruling priest, even when he or she is bowed low with denial and suffering.

One reason for our suffering is that we may be humbled and learn that man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:2,3)

The Lord Jesus cried from the cross, "I thirst." The saint may spend many years thirsting for that which other people possess in abundance.

Another reason why we experience unfulfilled desire, and other suffering, is that God is preparing us to rule. Every ruler, as we have stated previously, must be tested rigorously as to stern obedience to the Father. A well-trained dog will not move toward a bone until the trainer gives the signal. How much more must we, who are destined to govern the works of God's hands, not move toward the fulfillment of our desires until God gives the signal. If we do before God gives permission we may discover to our anguish that we have lost our predetermined place in the Kingdom. Also, the fruit we have picked will not be ripe. It will be exceedingly bitter to the taste.

It is only as we suffer that we are qualified to rule with Christ.

After we have been proven, and our character has been formed in the Divine Fire, we will be granted the desires of our heart. This is what the Scripture states and the Scripture cannot be broken. Heaven and earth shall pass away but the Scripture cannot be changed in the smallest detail.

We have been commanded to ask what we will in the name of the Lord Jesus and our prayer shall be answered. Why answered? So our joy may be full.

To be continued.