Have you ever wondered, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Or maybe you’ve wondered why you did what you felt you were supposed to do and it ended poorly. Shouldn’t God have protected you and blessed you? Why do you feel like you were cursed instead?
Some see God like Santa Claus or a Cosmic Genie, there to fulfill our wishes and make everything right. Others see Him like Zeus with a lightning bolt, ready to strike if we step out of line. Neither is true. God is love. What we’ve forgotten in our permissive, entitled world is that love is BOTH challenge and support. A wise, loving mortal father provides for us and gives comfort. He also knows how to set boundaries, say “no,” course correct, and discipline when necessary.
Our Heavenly Father challenges us in some situations and brings support in others. We’re all being tutored to trust God. Sometimes it’s easier than others. Sometimes God’s laws and the challenges we experience seem cruel — like God is asking too much, has abandoned us, or even thrown us into the fire. Other times God’s hand seems merciful, warm and generous. Bottom line, we aren’t God, and His ways aren’t our ways. Everything is designed to bring about His purposes in our individual and collective lives.
I’ve had very hard things happen to me when I followed the path I felt God told me to travel and it “ended” painfully. But beyond that “end” was an incredible blessing that I never would have received without that hard thing. From my current vantage point, I wouldn’t change a thing, and I wouldn’t expect God to apologize for telling me to pursue a path that brought pain.
Sometimes we feel we have to be compassionate with others because God is being “mean.” Perhaps His strictness or discipline is His way of reminding us that we are brothers and sisters and we SHOULD be there for each other. I know I am incredibly grateful for those who were with me, lightening my burdens, mourning with me and expressing words of hope and comfort in my difficulties. God’s challenges and human compassion aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand in hand. My hardship brought me a wonderful new friend, expanded gifts/talents, and eventually the man I love.
While God is the same yesterday, today and forever, that doesn’t mean that a path He asks us to travel today will be the same path a year from now. Sometimes He gives. Sometimes He takes. Sometimes He asks us to do something hard and other times showers blessings. All of it is orchestrated for our good. While God isn’t changing, we are. We don’t deal with a teenager like we did with a two-year-old. And we don’t treat our 30-year-old children like teenagers. Times change, society changes, we change, and God deals with us appropriate to where we are.
I’m grateful for an all-knowing Father who sees the end from the beginning, and who holds in His view the person I am becoming. With that clear vision, He allows my life to unfold with all the hard times and the sweet times, so I can reach my full potential. Sure, I have made and will continue to make mistakes. But, He’s always there with a hand and a forgiving heart. As I keep following Him, He holds none of it against me – anymore than my earthly father would still be aggravated about milk I spilled as a kindergartner.
I wish the world understood what real love is. It isn’t permissive, anything goes license. Love is strong enough to set boundaries and say No. Love is soft enough to comfort us yet strong enough to challenge us to rise higher and be better. Love never leaves us where it found us. It holds the vision of where we’re going and gives us opportunities to grow while forgiving us as we learn.
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