Wonder why things are different for you? (by David L. Brown)

I was searching for this message, and finally found it! My friend, David L. Brown, wrote it back in January 2010, and it is as valid today, as it was then. Occasionally I need to be reminded of this message, and I sense some of you need to hear it, as well. I have added some minor editing to the original message, to hopefully clarify some of what the Lord wants you to hear. I hope it is as relevant for you, as it has been for me. Enjoy.

How many times have you wondered why God has allowed the things to happen to you that have? You felt like you were being singled out for some reason, beyond your ability to understand. You sit and watch as others prosper, have success and it seems that you are going nowhere. Ah, but my friend, God has a plan. You are special to Him. He has different plans for you.

I remember a message Jeremiah presented:

“I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We are in a day when God is preparing a people to truly be a peculiar people. He is building a remnant that will be able to stand in the face of certain persecution, possibly even death. Be patient, wait on God, watch what He is doing, and follow it through. You are not alone, there are others going through the same thing.

If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians.

There might be times when the Lord seems to allow other people do things that He will not let you do. You will see other Christians and ministers, who seem very religious and useful, push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you even attempt to, you meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord, that it makes you sorely penitent.

This is an area I have wrestled with many times—and still do. Things I wish to do, but the Lord simply will not allow it. These are good things, endeavors many others have been allowed to do, but whenever I attempt it, the Lord hinders it. I sense many of you have been frustrated about somethings, as well. Oh, it may not be ministry wise, but possibly in your business—or maybe in your family. I do not know what the issue is you have been wrestling with, but I know this message is specifically for some of you.

Others may boast about themselves, about their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin to do any of those things, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Yes, others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor. Why? Because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him! His desire is that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury. Yes, the Lord may allow others to be honored and put forward, and yet He keeps you hidden in obscurity. Because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

Yes, He may allow others to be great, but will keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and receive the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER when JESUS COMES.

Here is what you need to know: The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for even little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind right now, that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.

No, He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you will absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it now and forever, that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH the HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. When you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP and MANAGEMENT OF the HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.