10/23/2025
Picking Up the Pieces of My Sweet Human Dreams
— Pastor Andy
When we surrender to the Lord, one of the first things we can expect is trials. Trials separate our flesh and our human goals from God’s eternal plans for our lives. What once seemed “sweet” to us may be proving out to be “sour” to Jesus.
* If you’re not Born Again and Saved, then this devotional will have no purpose for you. For the first steps are being Saved and then the Spiritual Baptism of God to give you power.
But if you have taken those 1st two steps as a true Christian, then this devotional may benefit you. For your life is according to this world dead. Jesus Christ said "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:25
*** I again suggest heavy caution to you to not look at trials in a flippant and worldly Oprah styled or Dr. Phil type of way. Not even in the way of many church pastors with their soft teachings that are meant to satisfy the viewers in the pews. Surrender to God and the trials that He sends to His chosen people, are not to be satified or softened. Got It?
To get to the other side of the lake where Jesus is waiting for you, some of you may need to untie the rope and cut the anchor and drift according to where Jesus wants to take you. That may mean cutting off worldly church ways and even people who are not 100% surrendered to Jesus. Because those who are not surrendered cannot give you the words of Christ, but may instead only offer the satisfaction that was offered to Eve in the garden or to Jesus when he was told by the devil to turn rocks into bread. Satan is tricky, so in your burdened life, only accept Gods words through Gods surrendered persons. * In your weakened state - be very careful.
For trials are a part of Surrender, and surrender is what a true Christian does. Maybe not a big church happily entertained person, but a sold out Christian who accepts all of Christ and all of His Words.
That missing word in today’s church of “Surrender” means acknowledging that your life and my life, as Christians, is over — and your life is now Christ’s life living IN and through you and myself.
Charles Spurgeon once said:
“There is a divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by human reason. There has never been great saintliness of soul without great suffering… When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own pain, then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.
When we finally lie still under God’s hand, every faculty of mind and heart subdued, a quietness of eternity settles into the soul. The tongue grows still. It stops asking “why” and simply rests in His will.
As we lay in God’s hands, imagination ceases building air castles. Our lives become so dead to self that nothing can hurt, offend, or hinder them anymore.”
Paul wrote of this mystery when he said:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
In other words, “Be still — let Me do My work upon you.”
Romans 8:26–28 gives us more comfort:
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness… He intercedes for us with groans too deep for words… and we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”
What a marvelous truth — God uses trials to shape us into the image of His Son.
Even Joseph’s story shows this as Joseph said to those In his family who tried go hurt him “What you intended for evil, God intended for good.” — Genesis 50:20
I may say “my Kidney Disease is good?” You may ask for your own life “is my trial good?” YES
Our life’s trials are something that is almost beyond our mental capability for understanding. But God did not tell us to reason it or try to understand or fix it. God just says “surrender to me”.
Trials, tribulations, and afflictions are tools in the hand of the Potter. If we remove ourselves from the water, we become hard, unusable clay. You may cry out “I hurt! I hate my life!” And this is bad?
NO. For this is good!
For Jesus said “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Jn 12:25
Here is the thing; if you by your fleshly pursuit, using your intelligence or systems, you do manage to escape your trials, then you may have lessened your value to God for His purpose for you.
* Think about that.
Scripture shows that suffering refines God’s children like gold in a furnace 1 Peter 1:6–7 Do we expect a crown of gold when - Jesus wore a crown of thorns? If your life IS the life of Jesus, than are you not accepting His choice of trials In your life?
When we see people from the Bible like Elijah, who wanted to die, and our other Bible hero’s who wrestled with depression and feelings of abandonment by God, and we find ourselves in similar places, have you ever considered that you walking along a path which others Bible hero’s have walked before you?
* Spurgeon’s wife once wrote on their bedroom wall:
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” — Isaiah 48:10
I think I’m going to have my wife put that on our bedroom wall.
Your tears are not wasted.
“You keep track of all my sorrows; You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.” — Psalm 56:8
Through these tears, repentance
^ (which should be daily and even hourly) deepens and our hearts are purified.
Let these verses bring comfort:
* “I want to know Christ… and the power of His resurrection… sharing in His sufferings.” — Philippians 3:10
* “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
* “In this you greatly rejoice… though now you suffer grief in various trials.” — 1 Peter 1:6–7
* “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing they produce endurance.” — Romans 5:3
* “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds.” — James 1:2
* “Through suffering our bodies share in the death of Jesus, so that His life may also be seen.” — 2 Corinthians 4:10
Are you surprised by your trial?
Don’t be! For 1 Peter 4:12-13 says “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory”.
Does this writer or others you know, in a weird way seemingly, boast of their sickness or trail?
- Well, actually that is good! The Apostle Paul said
“Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Christ power will live in me”. 2nd Cor 12:9
“I now rejoice in my sufferings”. Col 1:24
Do you lack joy in life as you suffer? Don’t, for James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds”.
Are people upsetting you with their advice about your trial or suggestions - that seems to be more worldly church answers, than words of Christ? Don’t let them, be like the Apostle Paul who said “From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus”. Gal 6:17
Is your trial upsetting others or is it lessening their view of you? If so, then know that the Apostle Paul said “Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies”. 2nd Cor 4:10.
If the unsaved and wordly church people still don’t get it, as to why you are suffering and you appear to them to be an outcast, then see the responses from God, which are biblical, yet never said and never preached.
* “I’m made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations.” Heb 10:33
* “God has put me on display, like a prisoner of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. A spectacle to the entire world—to people and also to angels”. 1st Cor 4:9
Your life is to be Christs life. Not for the unsaved or even the worldly church enjoyment of others, but instead your life is to be seen as one who is dead to who they once were and is now only living because of Jesus, and only for His purpose. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”. Gal 2:20
Even this writer through different Doctors appointments has acknowledged that the main purpose and definitely the main joy is to witness to these medical professionals about Jesus.
Each scripture verse in this devotional, reminds us — the path of pain is used by Jesus as the path of transformation.
If you manage by fleshly effort to escape your trials, you may lessen your value for God’s purposes.
Don’t run from the Potter’s hands as He presses into the clay and makes you His vessel.
Every great saint — Elijah, Job, Moses, Paul — walked this road before us. Each was refined by loss, isolation, or despair. But in that furnace, they met God face to face.
Will this trial that you are in - end? Yes in this life or you will be free of it when you get to Heaven (if Saved).
For the Bible says “The God of all grace will restore you after you have suffered a little while” 1 Peter 5:10
I encourage you to not just save these scriptures, but more to take these scriptures to the bank of your soul and deposit them, for later they will earn heavenly interest and make your soul wealthy to God. Or if you should live, then take the reward interest earned/received in these trials, that are in Gods bank - and share it with others who are hurting. Spread the wealth. Go to a small Church fellowship to talk with others of how Elijah sat and the brook dried up. Yes, talk of that and Job, and Joseph’s prison, Jeremiah’s pit, Moses stutter, Paul’s shipwreck and more. Talk of that and of the Lord — who is a “God of sorrows”.
And rejoice that God loves you so much that He died for you and is now reshaping you into His image.
Here is the beauty, if you Saved, Baptized and surrendered, then you are being drawn into union with Christ— skin to skin, thought to thought, feeling to feeling — crucified with Him, risen with Him, alive only in Him.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” —Galatians 2:20
So if your dreams lie broken and crushed, do not try to gather up the pieces. Let the pieces lay on the ground. Let God reshape not these pieces, but you, into His eternal design.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18
Surrender every part of your life, with your troubles, sickness, and all the fragments. Let it all go.
Jesus will make something of you and all these matters, into something holy — and He will bind the wounds in your soul with His nail-pierced hands.
And in your trail and later, your life will bring Glory to Jesus.
— Pastor Andy
~ I write this in my own hand, as led by God’s Spirit. Please remember my chains for Christ. May His grace be with you all
