Thoughts From David Wilkerson

Dear Friends,

I date myself when I suggest everyone knows David Wilkerson, author of the best-selling international adventure story (a true story) written in 1963 and titled “The Cross and the Switchblade.” It chronicled Wilkerson’s work with gangs in New York City and was later made into a biographical crime movie in 1970. One of his lesser-known books is a devotional book entitled, “I’m Not Mad at God,” published in 1967. I have selected three entries. I made some minor grammatical changes for better understanding. I trust at least one of them might hit home with you. Enjoy.

"Stay here and keep watch with me."
Matt. 26:38

"The true purpose of prayer is that we enjoy much personal communion with the Lord. The heart is reluctant to dwell in God's presence for long, and so it satisfies itself instead with 'devotions.' This describes a hurried period late at night, or early in the morning, when a quick prayer is offered to God after a hurried portion of scripture is read and partially absorbed. All the spiritual service in the world cannot excuse a man from his duty and privilege of prayer in the secret closet – locked in with God until the carnal soul is transformed and holy desires are strengthened. True men of God know they are too weak to face the enemy daily without daily and consistent prayer."

"As an eagle stirs her nest...."
Deut. 32:11

"The man God uses is often a restless man. He cannot be satisfied with the status quo. His nest is always being stirred. Just when he settles down to rest in a few months of enjoyable ministry, he loses heart or becomes strangely restless. He cannot tell you why. He may know the great joy of the Lord, but at the same time be absolutely disgusted with his present situation. Watch out - God is ready to break up the nest. You will soon be flung out into the space of faith and trust, ready to do God's bidding. All new ministries He has thrust me into have come immediately after a 'nest stirring.' Restlessness and discontent are the motivation forces that drive all men of God to great heights of service. [Acts 1:8 is often followed by Acts 8:1, where the disciples were ‘stirred up by persecution’ and made uncomfortable to be made obedient to the initial command of Jesus.]"

"Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word."
Psalm 119:67

"I believe in healing. I believe in affliction. I believe in 'healing afflictions.' Any affliction that keeps me from going astray – that drives me deeper into His Word – is healing. God's most gracious healing force spiritually and physically can be afflictions. To suggest that pain and affliction are of the devil is to suggest that David was driven by the devil to seek God's Word. I have suffered great pain. I have called on God for deliverance and I believe Him for complete healing. Yet, while I go on believing, I continue to thank God for the present condition, and I let it serve to remind me how dependent on Him I really am. With David I can say, 'It is good for me.' Pain and afflictions are not to be despised as coming from the devil. Such burdens have produced great men of faith and insight."

I am unaware of any true believer who does not go through struggles, trials and afflictions. They are as necessary to our spiritual growth as breathing is to our physical life. They are actually expressions of God’s love for us. “Endure hardship as discipline, God is treating you as sons” (Hebrews 12:7). Or as I have paraphrased it before, “Endure hardship as discipline, God is loving you."

The problem is (as the Bible readily admits), “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful” (v. 11). It isn’t until “later” (often times much later) that we find that they “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by them” (v. 11b). They are never enjoyable and never fun. No one in their right mind looks forward to trials. They often feel like having a tooth drilled at the dentist without novocaine.

Yet, as with numerous things in this world, extended periods of time are necessary to bring about the desired end. Like aging wine or cheese, curing or slow cooking foods, chilling soda or putting a permanent curve into a piece of wood, or investing in retirement funds, the longer it takes, the better it tastes, the more it bends, or the more the funds multiply.

Trials and hardships can be the same when it comes to the transformational effect they have on us. As much as we would like them to pass as quickly as possible, slow and continued change, rather than fast and immediate change, tends to result in more permanent change. Our Maker knows this, and in the transformative work He is carrying out in us, He is more than aware of which trials can bring about the desired end quickly, and which need more time to bring about that change. The hardest part is trusting the process, or more to the point, the One who oversees that process.

Yours In the Bonds of our Common Afflictions, Pastor Jeff