The New Testament tells us that God desires to show His wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenlies through the church.

Ephesians 3:10 says, "In order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 6:12 tells us that those rulers are the evils spirits in the heavenly places.

The things that befall us are not accidental, but specifically planned for us and weighed out (so that they will never be beyond our capacity to bear)"according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23) - with the dual aim of transforming us unto the likeness of Christ, and of manifesting to Satanic spirit-rulers in the heavenlies that God still has a people on earth who will love, obey and praise Him, in faith, in all circumstances.

Every trial that we go through is a trial of our faith. Even in Job's time, he could say, "God knows every detail of what is happening to me." (Job. 23:10-Living). Today we can go one step further and say (on the basis of Romans 8:28) that "God PLANS every detail concerning me."

The commands in the New Testament are "Be anxious for nothing......rejoice in the Lord always......give thanks for everything..." etc., (Phil. 4:6,4).

Such commands were not given in the Old Testament, because grace had not yet come. But now we can see God's hand in everything and now grace is available at every moment to keep us victorious constantly.

Paul's triumphant cry was "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ." (2 Cor.2:14).

We can be overcomers now, even if we lose our property and our children, or if our wives accuse us, or if fellow- believers misunderstand us and criticise us, or if anything else happens that God sees fit to send into our lives.

Thus God demonstrates to Satan that He has a remnant on earth, who will not only submit to all His dealings with them, but who will also accept every trial joyfully, convinced that these light afflictions are designed by God to produce for them an eternal weight of glory.

The Bible says, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." (2 Cor.4:17,18).

Do we really believe, concerning everything that comes across our path, that God has planned it all in perfect wisdom and love, and that His power is almighty enough to deliver us from the testing, when the right time comes?

Will God find in you and me those whom He can boldly point out to Satan as men who will never complain or grumble under any circumstance, but who will only give thanks for all things at all times?