"I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."–Eccl. 3:14
Nothing that takes place in time has any bearing on what has taken place in eternity. God has chosen whom He shall save (Rom. 9:11-13). He loved us in Christ; created us in Christ; chose that we would be holy in Christ; and eternally accepted us in the Beloved. None of our righteousness before God has anything to do with our works in time. We were accepted before time, redeemed and justified before our birth, and predetermined for a glorious eternal standing (Rom. 8:28-30).
Everything is by absolute grace–every drop of blessing, every reviving of the spirit, every cleansing of the conscience–is given to us in predestinating love. The good that we receive from the Lord is not because of our temporal faithfulness. He predetermined to grace us, and now, through faith, He is bestowing the firstfruits of His eternal love.
Nothing is left for us to do, and faith is the way that we receive. This gospel is true, and it is for all that believe. Electing love is unmovable, and everyone who believes receives. Faith reckons God to be good enough and gracious enough to give you the riches of His infinite grace, without any contributing works of your own, in spite of His rejection of many. Faith does not stagger at predestination, the guilt of sin, or the lusts of temptations. Faith receives God's promises reckoning that He is able to fulfill them through Jesus Christ the Lord. Therefore, faith glorifies God's Word and is imputed unto sinners for righteousness (Rom. 4:16-24).
It's God's choice when He comforts. It's God's choice when the Word shall go forth with strength. You can't change the time or the season (Eccl. 3:15). You can't turn winter into spring. And, any comfort that you receive in the painful cold is ordained of God and God-given. God is in absolute control of the past, present, and future… and He requires from us the wages of our sin–(Eccl. 3:15) "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." The Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer for His own sins, but ours, and our chastisements are for our own unbelief. Yet, the believer's iniquity of yesterday cannot altar the eternally predestinated grace God purposed for today. Today may be exceedingly painful for you to bear, but always remember that today was given to you in eternity, in love, and in the glorious perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, today is the best day that God could have given you. In times past, when God considered your sin, your need, His Son, the glory of His kingdom and people, He gave you this day. It was not sent arbitrarily; it was not sent dependent upon your mere yesterday. No, today was given to you in wise immutable sovereign love that stretches from eternity to eternity. Everything that takes place upon this day is because of what took place upon the Day of Christ's resurrection (Ps. 118:22-25). His resurrection day delivered my soul. And, in love for my soul, He delivered me from the pit of corruption (Isa. 38:17). He has chosen how much joy I should have today, how much sorrow, and everything in between. His determination to hear my prayer has nothing to do with my praying today. From eternal predestination, He was ready to save.
Pour your heart out to Him, but don't try to manipulate Him. Put confidence in His love, His purpose, and His Son's blood. We're blessed to have a Father that allows us to pour out our very complaints. (Ps. 62:8) "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah" We are bidden to communicate respectfully with Him, confessing all of our unbelief, grief, and temptation. We can never trouble His ears with the expressions of our inmost depravity and fear. But, His eternal decree will never be changed or manipulated by your tears. His eternal purpose of grace in Christ Jesus will never move for your good works. He cannot give you anything better than He has purposed, and you cannot add any justification unto Christ's blood. Therefore, in full recognition of the varying times and seasons expect the best that He has promised. Call upon God to fulfill His every blessing of grace.
We cannot change God, and He needs no changing. If all of the saints from all generations were to pray in unison asking God to change an eternal decree, we would plead in vain. That He cannot be changed is one truth, and that He doesn't need to change is the other truth. His eternal predisposition is only good to us through Christ Jesus the Lord. The first truth destroys all confidence in our prayers and our ability to manipulate God with tears. The second glorifies God as we cast ourselves upon His goodness and promises in Jesus Christ the Risen King. Expect what He has promised– good and evil (Job 2:9-10), joy and pain (Eccl. 3:1-8), laughter and tears, embracing and refraining from embracing. Day by day we sorrow for our past transgressions, our present unbelief, and we moan because sin is all around us– people that we love are walking straight to hell; yet, His Son's blood has secured that nothing will ever overcome us (II Cor. 4:7-9, 15-18). Not only shall sorrow and temptation never overcome us, but also they shall bring every believer to fresh repentance and increased commitment unto Him.