Have you ever asked that question?
"Where is God in all of this? Why does he let such horrible things happen?"
I know I have. Many times.
I have faced many storms. You have too. Our Country has as well.
We all remember where we were when the events of 9/11 unfolded.
Well I wanted to share my devotional from Bible Gateway because I thought it was wonderful.
"The Lord is my light and the one who saves me. So why should I fear anyone? The Lord protects my life. So why should I be afraid? Evil people may try to destroy my body. My enemies and those who hate me attack me, but they are overwhelmed and defeated. If an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid. If war breaks out, I will trust the Lord." (Psalm 27:1-3, NCV)
I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the phone rang and my husband said, "Honey, you need to turn on the television - right now." It was the middle of the day and I was busy cleaning house, doing laundry and trying to cram in an hour of study time, but the sadness and dread in my husband's voice stopped me in my tracks. Something was very wrong. Still, I was totally unprepared for the horrific scene that played out in vivid reality on the television screen before me. I stared in shock at the surreal images of two airplanes flying into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Both towers collapsed - killing thousands of innocent people - and forever changing life as we know it.
Why bad things happen to good people is a question we have been asking since time began. I have been a Christ follower for many years. I am a Christian author and speaker and the wife of a pastor. Over the years, God has brought me out of more pits than I can count and I have literally attended church since the day I was born. My faith in God should be unwavering and I should never doubt or question Him or His plan. But sometimes I do.
You may be offended at my next statement, but if I am brutally honest, my faulty human mind and sin-tainted heart can almost - almost come to grips with such horrendous circumstances happening to someone who is evil and has turned their back on God. Bad things should happen to bad people and good things should happen to good people. Sounds logical and fair - right?
You and I both know that life is not fair and that our human logic is a shallow substitute for God's sovereignty. We are broken people living in a broken world. Bad things do happen to good people while those who mock God seem to prosper, and it's been that way for a long time. Take Job for example.
I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the phone rang and my husband said, "Honey, you need to turn on the television - right now." It was the middle of the day and I was busy cleaning house, doing laundry and trying to cram in an hour of study time, but the sadness and dread in my husband's voice stopped me in my tracks. Something was very wrong. Still, I was totally unprepared for the horrific scene that played out in vivid reality on the television screen before me. I stared in shock at the surreal images of two airplanes flying into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Both towers collapsed - killing thousands of innocent people - and forever changing life as we know it.
Why bad things happen to good people is a question we have been asking since time began. I have been a Christ follower for many years. I am a Christian author and speaker and the wife of a pastor. Over the years, God has brought me out of more pits than I can count and I have literally attended church since the day I was born. My faith in God should be unwavering and I should never doubt or question Him or His plan. But sometimes I do.
You may be offended at my next statement, but if I am brutally honest, my faulty human mind and sin-tainted heart can almost - almost come to grips with such horrendous circumstances happening to someone who is evil and has turned their back on God. Bad things should happen to bad people and good things should happen to good people. Sounds logical and fair - right?
You and I both know that life is not fair and that our human logic is a shallow substitute for God's sovereignty. We are broken people living in a broken world. Bad things do happen to good people while those who mock God seem to prosper, and it's been that way for a long time. Take Job for example.
Job was an extraordinary man, husband, father and leader who served God faithfully. His faithfulness to God in prosperity was a powerful testimony, but His faithfulness to God in the face of death, pain and despair was even more powerful. Did Job doubt and question God? Absolutely! Did Job openly and honestly grieve his loss and weep in his pain? Yes, but he remained faithful to God, even when he did not understand why God would let him endure such suffering and even when his heart and body was broken. God was pleased with Job and rewarded him for his faithfulness.
Storms come in all shapes and sizes. The lab report comes back malignant. The school calls, demanding that you pick up your child who has just been expelled. Your husband informs you that he no longer wants to be married to you. Your boss calls you into his office to let you know that you are being fired. Financial disaster seems certain while dependable friends seem to vanish. Yes, storms will come and bad things will happen - even to fully devoted followers of God. Where is God when the winds pick up and the churning waters pummel your rocking boat? God is where He has always been and always will be - in the midst of every stormy circumstance. Run into His waiting arms when you are afraid. Trust Him - even though you may not understand what is happening in your life.
He is with you. Always.
AMEN.
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing this girl. Amen.
Amen! =)
&Thank you for posting this!
Thanks for sharing that Michelle! I struggle with that sometimes too. I've watched my dad go through some tough things over the past couple of years and he really does do his best to do the right thing. It's disheartening at times to see this and those that are doing wrong seem to succeed when he's going through the tough stuff. It probably won't ever make perfect sense to us in this life, but someday it will.
Storms do come in all shapes and sizes. Losing a job or trying to make ends meet with limited finances. Trusting that God will always provide is what gets us through. Thanks for sharing this. Loved it!!
love you, girly!
xoxo
great post filled with truth!! I think its so ironic many times that people only look for God when something tragic happens, all of a sudden people want to blame God when they didn't believe in him the day before. I remember where i was 9/11 too and it was a tragic thing that happened that day. Hebrews 13:5 is one of my favorite verses! He only puts us through the storm to refine us and purify us.
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