Several weeks ago, I began sharing about a trading platform in the heavenly realm where we all trade all the time, whether we realize it or not. I’ve mentioned the specific criteria given to me by Wisdom to determine whether something is a 30-fold, 60-fold or 100-fold investment and, so far, have covered these three:
1. Is It eternal or temporal?
2: Is it resonating with love, joy, peace and all the fruit of the Spirit?
3: Is it God-ordained or “good” flesh initiated?
Today, we’re going to talk about how to leverage suffering…
According to the dictionary, leveraging something is:
1. expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable
2. to use (something) to maximum advantage
In the Father’s brilliant economy, nothing is wasted. When suffering filters through His hands and we respond correctly, it creates a beautiful fragrance. Recently, I met a man, and every time I spoke with him, I started to weep from the presence of the Lord dripping from his life. I don’t even think he has the baptism of the Holy Spirit yet, and I began to inquire of the Lord as to what I was sensing. Within a few weeks, he shared his story… a story of intense personal and family suffering. Then I understood. I was breathing in the fragrance of a heart crushed by suffering but still responding in love and devotion.
Of course we know that God is never the author of evil. It is our adversary who seeks to “steal, kill and destroy.” Our Father DOES, however, give us opportunities to OVERCOME evil, knowing that suffering produces a brokenness and humility in us that nothing else can accomplish. This brokenness doesn’t earn His blessing, but, if we respond correctly, it does serve to break the dominion of the flesh, which, in turn, allows us to receive and steward the blessings He is constantly pouring out. This is why God loves a broken and contrite spirit.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
-Psalm 34:18, NKJV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
-Psalm 51:17, NKJV
The Passion Translation says it this way: The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you. You will not despise my tenderness as I bow down humbly at your feet.
-Psalm 51:17, TPT
Even if your suffering is self-imposed, like David’s that we read about in Psalm 51, it can still be transformative through the power of repentance.
Remember that the definition of “leverage” is “expecting the profits made to be greater than the interest payable.” We see clearly from II Corinthians 4:16-18 that a small amount of temporal suffering is equal to a much larger amount of eternal glory.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18, NKJV
It can be challenging to view things this way when you’re actually in the midst of suffering, yet because of this spiritual principle, we understand that to be trusted with suffering is an honor and an opportunity. A classic Biblical example of the “return on investment” of suffering is Job, who received a natural double portion of restoration… not to mention his eternal reward.
If you are walking through suffering today, I want to release to you His comfort, His perspective, hope that it will not last forever and a sense of purpose in knowing that it is accomplishing in you that “exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Be encouraged and strengthened today.
Jumpstart 2023
Jumpstart 2023 has been absolutely AMAZING! We have joined together with over 50 believers from all over the globe to pray and to encounter the kingdom. Already, many are “finding their voice.” Others are being unlocked to see and hear in the Spirit or are realizing that they have been encountering Him all along and just didn’t recognize it. The Lord has released brilliant and weighty strategy, and He has woven this group of people who don’t even know one another in the natural together in a way that only He can do. It has grown in number every day, and it is still not too late for you to join us, should you feel led to do so.
Here’s the format:
6:00-6:15 EST – praying in the Spirit
6:15-6:30 EST – silently and individually encountering the heavenly realm
6:30-7:00 EST – sharing what we have received
To join, just log in to Zoom, with Meeting ID: 898 1867 7289 and Passcode: 303964. Or use this LINK
Feel free to share this with others you know and trust, but please do not share publicly or on social media.
What an exciting time to be alive! And I am honored to be advancing His kingdom with YOU!
Until next time…
Virginia