Upside Down Kingdom - Pt 4

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined lto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30 ESV). The fourth principle of this “Upside Down Kingdom” is that our weakness actually serves to build our trust in God’s wise and loving providence. We learn obedience to God as we experience that nothing can separate us from his Spirit. God never leaves us nor forsakes us no matter how difficult things become. We learn that he knows exactly what he is doing at all times, what he is up to through our trials, even when we can’t comprehend it.

Just as the sun breaks through the clouds of every storm, so God works all our suffering for good. It is a promise that has been testing by time and proven true. That allows us to grumble a little less about our circumstance. We can learn a bit more consistency in submission to our Savior and Lord, no matter what he brings our way. Our stiff necks grow a bit more flexible. We grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (cf. 2 Peter 3:18). In Finishing Our Course with Joy, Packer defines spiritual maturity like this: “Spiritual maturity is a deep, well-tested relationship to our triune God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and a quality of relationship with both believers and unbelievers that embraces concern, sympathy, warmth, care, wisdom, insight, discernment, and understanding.” This also leads us to develop the character that neither thinks more highly, nor less, of others than we ought. There are various kinds of weak believers: the sick, disabled, elderly, poor, those not intellectually gifted, those with unimpressive occupations, the socially marginalized (to whom little opportunity is given and from whom little is expected). Some of the most sympathetic, caring, and wise people I have been privileged to meet and know fit one or more of those descriptions. Their relationship with God has been tested and their character refined. Our weakness reminds us that the marks of spiritual maturity are not the abilities lauded by the world. The great and ironic wisdom of the cross is that God chooses the foolish, weak, low, and despised to shame the strong and shut the mouths of the proud. God uses our weaknesses to remind us of important gospel truths and to refine our trust in him.