"For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance (a place of rich fulfillment)." (Psalms 66:10-12).

God wants us to be prosperous in the truest sense (See Jeremiah 29:11). But the way to prosperity is often fraught with difficulty. When we hear God-given promises for prosperity we are not always aware of the processes He may use to bring this about.

A personal trainer serves the interests of those who resolve to become physically fit by holding them accountable to their goal. The trainer will be careful to increase our daily regimen of exercise and weight resistance. If we do not take on greater weight, new muscle will not grow. So it is that the Lord often brings us to a place of greater strength and spiritual prosperity by confining us for a season, increasing a burden, allowing others to "ride over our heads". The way to refinement may mean being purified in the furnace of affliction, forged in the fire of trial, or submerged in waters that drive us to swim to the Rock.

Leaders are made as well as born. Moses had all the worldly benefits of education and training that Pharaoh's household could offer. But none of these could make him spiritually prosperous, qualify him for leadership, or bring him fulfillment. Joseph had his father's favor, a coat of honor and prestige, but he did not come into that divinely intended ministry, that place of prosperity and fulfillment, until he had suffered disappointment, betrayal, others "riding over his head". The burdens that others put on his back, and the constraints that were put upon him, God used to bring him to abundance.

Jesus promised His followers an easy yoke and light burden (Matthew 11:30). This does not mean that they will not experience hardship or difficulty. The yoke is easy and the burden is light because we share His life, His vision, His strength and His nature by virtue of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. We experience partnership with Christ in the work that we do. He is with us in the work to lead, guide and strengthen. We are with Him to cooperate.

In hindsight these burdens are much lighter than we may feel they are at the time we are bearing them. Especially when we compare them to the benefit they ultimately bring us. God uses adversity to prepare us for greater service. We are in training for reigning! Trials can bring us into a greater depth of trust and reliance upon Christ.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2Corinthians 4:17).

There's a Weaver in the night Who takes the loose ends of my life And He works in the way He's planned We can trust in the Unseen Hand.