I don't know where we got the idea that being a Christian was an insurance policy against challenges, sorrows and unhappiness. I guess it is a natural human interpretation of the passages that say we are blessed when we obey God. But, though we are made in God's image, we sure don't naturally see things the way God does.
God says, "Follow the rules I have given you, not because I will be the slot-machine God that sends indiscriminate material blessings when you pays your dollar. Instead, I say, follow the rules because I wrote them to help you keep from damaging yourself by chasing things that can never make you happy."
And God, being SO different than ourselves, does not turn His back on us when we fail to follow the rules, but is constant in His love and willingness to help us find our way out of the messes. When the general broken condition of this world cause us to experience challenges that we haven't invited into our lives God still walks with us and uses these challenges to help us grow in compassion, mercy, and faith.
So, whether we are suffering the aftermath of our own choices or dealing with the sorrows endemic in our world, God is ever faithful, always bigger than the circumstances and so tenderly loving. No matter how broken we feel or how much we feel hope is ebbing, God never let's us go. Even when we are wholly unable to do anything for ourselves; even when we are afraid to cry for fear we will never be able to stop; even when those who love us best have run out of ideas of how to help, God never let's us go.
He will not break even a crushed reed. He will not put out even the weakest flame. He will bring true justice. Is. 42:3
God says, "Follow the rules I have given you, not because I will be the slot-machine God that sends indiscriminate material blessings when you pays your dollar. Instead, I say, follow the rules because I wrote them to help you keep from damaging yourself by chasing things that can never make you happy."
And God, being SO different than ourselves, does not turn His back on us when we fail to follow the rules, but is constant in His love and willingness to help us find our way out of the messes. When the general broken condition of this world cause us to experience challenges that we haven't invited into our lives God still walks with us and uses these challenges to help us grow in compassion, mercy, and faith.
So, whether we are suffering the aftermath of our own choices or dealing with the sorrows endemic in our world, God is ever faithful, always bigger than the circumstances and so tenderly loving. No matter how broken we feel or how much we feel hope is ebbing, God never let's us go. Even when we are wholly unable to do anything for ourselves; even when we are afraid to cry for fear we will never be able to stop; even when those who love us best have run out of ideas of how to help, God never let's us go.
He will not break even a crushed reed. He will not put out even the weakest flame. He will bring true justice. Is. 42:3
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