The fact is that I have no guts. When I sit across the table from someone that is going through some really tough stuff I don't have the guts to tell them that yes God might have planned this for their life. If He didn't plan it then He allowed it to happen. Nothing goes through His hands that He doesn't filter. I don't know for sure, but if I believe in His sovereignty, then that should be what I ultimately believe. He allows.
And why no guts - for some reason or really 2 reasons I can think of right this very second - 5:44am - I find myself too often by the words coming out of my mouth or by my actions obviously not believing God for who He is or Believe Him for what He says He can do. The other reason is that I feel a responsibility to make the Lord look good or as if He needs help so that the person will not be mad at Him or blame Him. UGH - therefore I have seen myself or heard others too making excuses for why they are going through something. Trying to help the situation or trying to not allow the Lord to look bad!
THE LORD CAN NOT LOOK BAD! HE NEEDS NO HELP!
HE CAN HANDLE OUR ACCUSATIONS! HE IS SECURE!
God's will for our lives comes in so many forms. By that I mean, we have according to the scripture His plan for our lives - "plans for hope, not to harm" Jer. 29:11 and various other scriptures. But that doesn't mean easy and great! It doesn't mean it won't be hard. "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Acts 14:22 We just have to more aware of the what we tell people. I do!! I have to have the guts to allow the Lord to work in and through someone or their situation. He will always come out beautiful and doesn't need my help!
And then there is the whole situation of consequences of sin. It can get ugly, the sin and the consequences. Hardships certainly can have a direct correlation to sin in our lives. Now that is really, really hard to sit across the table and be honest about. Or worse, look yourself in the mirror and say that there is a huge indication that I made this bed and now I have to lie in it. yikes!!!
The bottom line for me when I am going through a hardship or trial or whatever you want to call it - I must be on my face before the Lord and seek Him. I must be in the Word to receive a word of correction. I know my Lord to be a God of redemption and reconciliation. He wants me to be in right standing with Him, but there are times that after the forgive is sought and received I still have to go through a hardship so that possibly I will remember and never act that way again. (I am a hard learner though.) Even the smallest of my sins deserve death - consequences as hard as it may be is still grace because I still deserve death. "For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23
Life is so tough, but He really is so good. Isn't it interesting that we buy all the Life is good stuff, myself included, but none of us really believe it..... He is good. He is really, really good! Praise You Lord!
5 comments:
Great blog! I'm glad I found you!
It is so difficult to counsel when someone is hurting. I think mature Christians understand God's soverignty (sp), but just need a patient, kind and loving ear. When you're really hurting, logic is useless anyway.
I'm going to follow you! Hope you'll follow me back at www.GodsyGirl.Com.
Peace, love and potato chips!
Teri
Truth is really from God. He chose us,
according to His Word. We didn't actually choose Him. He actually chose us before the foundation of the world. It just seemed to us at the time we chose Him, but actually it was just the very time He chose to open our eyes with His Grace so we could see for the very first time when HE CHOSE to have MERCY on us and grant us the FAITH OF JESUS.
Amen Grace and peace to you.
I hear ya sister! Sometimes I struggle with believing God is good. I know He is, but I'm not always feeling convinced in the midst of the struggle. He is continually stretching my faith in this area. I'm real good at believing for other ppl... even when the times are hard on them. But not myself. Aah... it is good to know God is good even when we're not feeling it right!!!
So good to hear from each one of you!!! I have missed blogging and glad to back in the swing of things. Don't be a stranger, always love to hear from yall!! Love much, Leigh
I'm so glad I clicked on your 'tag' in my blogfrog community. Thank you for your honesty about the difficulty and the hardships that come on this journey of life. When I was a child I was taught that the road we as Christians follow is rough and narrow, frought with twists and turns.
The road others follow is wide and straight. Jesus uses all these things to mold us and help us see that the only thing that matters here is Him and our relationship with Him. And of course family.
Sanctification is tough and it hurts!
I get pretty ticked off about it though:-), ''
I hope you will visit my site too. I am honest---and I struggle with my life.
Lois
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