This Word Is Submitted By Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

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                        Good Friday Word

Too many of My own confuse what is "good" with what is convenient 
and what is comfortable. That is why they do not recognize those 
times when I am at work in their life for good.

Look at the name "Good Friday" as an example. It is the day that
commemorates what I did on Calvary, how I purchased mankind's 
salvation; how I won their freedom from the oppression of the devil.

You call this day "good"--and it is. What I have done is very good 
for you, it is freedom and it is life. But at the time that it was 
happening, it did not feel "good" to Me. It was a day of suffering 
and torment. It was a day of injustice and false accusation. It was a 
day where I was despised and dishonored--and even though I had done 
only good, I was put to death as if I were a criminal. 

You cannot comprehend how much pain I went through to bring about 
this good...not just the physical suffering in My body, but also the 
torment of being separated from the Father as I bore the sins of the 
world upon My own self.

The deliverance of your God is often like that--it is good but it is
not always convenient, nor is it always comfortable. So do not assume
that I am not at work for good in your life (and in your circumstances) 
just because I allow you to endure some pain or suffering.

Look at how I delivered My people from the bondage of Egypt. That
was good and it was in response to their prayers and cries before Me.
But it wasn't easy and it wasn't comfortable. Their oppression
actually increased when I first began to work on their behalf. They
were forced to gather straw as well as to make bricks, and many
received beatings and abuse as they were not able to deliver their
quota under such impossible demands. And when I led them out of Egypt, 
their enemy pursued them and chased them. 

Do not think it was easy for them as they fled for their life only to 
have their escape blocked by the Red Sea. They were tired and hungry 
and very frightened--and with good cause. No, the circumstances of 
their deliverance was not easy. And even after I parted the Red Sea 
and provided a means of escape, they still had to march through it for 
hours. They had to press on in their own limited strength--even though
they already walked more than a full day's journey, even though they 
had no sleep that night, and even though they had not eatten all day, 
for they had no time to prepare and consume a meal as they ran for 
their lives. You look back on this delivarance as a great and glorious 
miracle, and it was. But it was not easy for the ones who had to live 
it.

My deliverances are not always pleasant. They do not always happen
instantly. They seldom happen the way you expect them to. But when
you are on the other side looking back, you will call them "Good."
And you will realize that I was right there with you, working on 
your behalf for your good.

So do not be discouraged when you endure hardship or suffering. Do
not be caught off guard by this and do not allow your faith to waiver.
When the circumstances would tell you otherwise, remind yourself that 
I am good. I am I desire good for you, and I am actively at work on 
your behalf to accomplish "good" in your life.