WHY?
Once again I was asked, “Why is God making me go through all of this? What did I do to deserve this kind of pain?” Have you ever wondered that thought or asked that question?
God tells us in the Book of James (1:2-4) that we can count it all joy when we go through trials and tribulations. He isn’t saying we have to be happy when we suffer a loss. Rather, we can have confidence that a just and loving and merciful Father is working everything out for my good His perfect will.
Have we anchored our hope in the circumstances that surround us? Or have we anchored our hope on nothing less that Jesus' blood and righteousness?
When my Dad died, I quickly discovered how easy it was to become angry with God. I had heard other people voice their anger in tough situations, but I never thought I would.
But slowly … very slowly … I began to realize that my perspective was limited, that I’d placed my hope in an answer to prayer that I insisted was best rather than trusting in the character of God to answer the prayer as He saw best.
I’d hung my hope in the wrong place – until God reminded me that I serve a God of hope, and His hope will not disappoint.
That is what we have to cling to no matter our circumstances. If, for a single moment, we think God isn't in control, then we've lost our focus; and we're making judgments without all the facts.
God is working all things – even the hardest of things – for our good. Put your hope where it belongs: in Jesus. Don’t hope in circumstances, but in the God who holds your future in his hands.
And pray this: “God to pull my eyes from my situation and keep them focused on You. Please fill me with hope and faith.”
This weekend at Gatetree
I will continue with this theme on Sunday February 8, when I preach the message iHurt as a part of the current message series iTruths for an iPod Generation. This is one message you won’t want to miss—if not for you then for someone who is hurting right now.
If you’re in the area, we would be delighted for you to spend your Sunday with us at Gatetree. I hope to see you then.
2 comments:
"What ever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I despise that saying (just hearing it makes me grind my teeth) so if something doesn't make you stronger it just kills you. What if you would prefer if a certain situation did just that, killed you?
It's really not a matter that some tragedy will make you stronger; rather it is how you trust God to handle that tragedy in your life that will result in increased patience and endurance. But I'm sure you already knew that.
I can understand the intent of your question for I have surely been there--when times were so dark that going another day seemed more than I could be expected to give. But those moments have been preciously few and God's grace has been in abundant supply.
Wishing to end it all presupposes that I know better than God. And I don’t. I can’t see the big picture. I can’t see the number of people who will be influenced for Christ as a result of how I handle this particular dark moment. And there is just something about quitting that goes against everything that I am as a Christian.
Just my thoughts.
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