Sorry, God!

God has been teaching me a lot lately, but my latest revelation I thought I'd share.

Here are the two verses that have been on my mind lately:

James 1:17- "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

John 10:10- "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

The first part of James 1 talks about being joyful during the storm (our troubles). We shouldn't be praying for the removal of our struggles but for the wisdom to use the trial to strengthen our faith and fall more in love with Christ.

The thief... aka Satan... loves to cause turmoil. If every good thing comes from God, then every evil/bad thing comes from Satan.

Now here's the kicker... what makes something good or bad?

Is it bad if it causes pain? Is it bad if it makes you cry? Is it bad if you lose something you love terribly? Is it good if it makes you so happy? Is it good if you get what you want?

...mmmm... not necessarily.

The thief is looking to steal, kill and destroy... I don't believe he is going to waste his time with people that are already disconnected from Christ. I believe Satan is attacking believers hardcore. He is threatened by us. The thief wants to steal, kill and destroy things in order to separate us from God. (What a jerk, right?!)

When something goes wrong in my life or a situation doesn't play out like I would have wanted, I initially get frustrated with God. Yet, I still cling to God as He is my hope and strength. It is so weird. It may even sound weird to you, as you are reading. I demand answers from God. As if He needs to justify His actions to me (sarcasm). 

However, I do believe that God does take things that give us happiness away. He wants us to be on that straight and narrow path with Him. If that means He has to take something, He will. Maybe He has to take something away so that we can have life to the fullest like He promised. We have to do things His way. If we aren't doing things His way, whose way are we doing them? Which way are we going? Hmm...

Sure, some trials in our life cause us serious pain. However, that may be a good thing- especially if you look at James 1. 

Consider... the pain in my life may actually be for the Greater good? To that I say, SO BE IT! 

Consider... the things in my life that are giving me great happiness, may actually be distractions from my relationship with Christ and thus are being used by Satan?

The Bible talks a great deal about suffering. However, never have I found a piece of scripture that suggest the "poor you" attitude. It says things like:

• "count it all joy...."
• "...we rejoice in our sufferings...."
• "...Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
• "....take heart..."
• "...do not be surprised at the fiery trial...."
• "...sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
• "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed...."
• "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
• "....I will be with you...."
• "He will wipe away ever tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
• "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
• "...the Lord delivers him out of them all."
• "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...."

You get the idea?

If my suffering brings me closer to Christ, then bring it on. Christ suffered the ultimate for all of us, the least I can do is go through this life fighting tooth and nail for Him.

I challenge you to not confuse pain and suffering with evil. Just don't let that time of trial be an opportunity for Satan to manipulate your mind. He is far too good at it. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS! You gotta fight. God designed you to be a fighter- for Him. :)

Lastly, lets not put God's ways below our own. Maybe what's going on in our lives makes absolutely no sense. We aren't going to understand everything. Granted we can't even begin to understand God. And if we thought we did- it would truly be an insult. Why would we ever think that we could put God and His love and grace and His ways in a nice little box so that way we could comprehend it? We just can't. Makes it fun too. (Tangent: The concept that God's love is so great that I am never going to make sense of it is SO COOL and overwhelming.) 

So, just because you don't understand what's going on, pray for that peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7). Peace trumps understanding.

Just because we think that we have all this logic and reasoning and then suddenly something happens that we can't comprehend, don't question God's method... humble yourself before Him and His ways. Sometimes we put our thoughts above God's, thinking He doesn't know what He is doing.

Check out Isaiah 55:8-9- "'For my thoughts are NOT your thoughts neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

Boom. He just told you that you don't think like Him. You don't necessarily do things the way He would. He is the Almighty God, He knows what's up, we don't. Plain and simple. He knows something, we definitely don't, that's enough for me to live by faith that He is going to get me to where I need to go.

Lord, I love you, but forgive me for not loving you as much as I should. I don't understand much of what goes on in my life sometimes, but I thank you for that peace that surpasses all understanding. Lord, I know I don't think like you do and I fall short all the time- but please keep giving me opportunities to grow. Give me the wisdom I need to face my daily challenges. Father, when things get tough, I know you are with me. Remind me of that when I forget. I know I am going to suffer, but Lord I rejoice in my sufferings knowing that I already have victory in you. You made a way for me to spend the rest of my life with you, and I dance in that freedom and that gift. God, I praise you, and I can't wait to meet you face to face. Love, Your child.

God Bless!