There has been much tragedy recently among people I know, as well as devastation due to wrong choices. This has caused me to reflect on and evaluate life, faith and this world. I have been in a sort of crisis of faith. Not in the sense of losing my faith in God but in wrapping my mind around how these things can happen and how to reconcile it all with the character of God. I went through something similar when my sister told me about her contracting HIV in Zambia. Struggling through questions of life and faith is a very healthy and beneficial experience. We have many biblical examples of this (Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah to name a few).
The week before mother's day, a friend from college and Deaf ministry was killed in a car accident. She was 26 years old, married to a worship pastor and has a two year old little boy. She was passionate for the Lord and full of joy.
On a completely different note, in the past two months I have had TWO friends that have been accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. These were normal, usually responsible moms. One of them was even named Teacher of the Year last year! When I see stories like this in the news, I think that person must be crazy to have done that! But when it is someone that you know and have been friends with since 4th grade, it makes you really wonder.
I have questioned God. Why did this happen? How is this for the best of a two year old to grow up without his mom? What about the kids of the teachers that will find out someday about what their mom did? What about the spouses involved? What about the kids that were harmed? Is God truly good? How can normal people make such wrong decisions? Why do bad things happen to good people?
God's Word has plenty to say about all of this.
There is Evil in this world because of sin. We will have trouble and face heartache but Jesus has overcome it all!
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)We eagerly wait and groan and long for our eternal home in Heaven.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:22, 23 NIV84)This world is not my home. Followers of Christ are called aliens and strangers in this world throughout the Bible. We do not belong here. Jesus is getting heaven ready for us!
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2 NIV)Heaven will be a place of no heartache, no evil, no tears, no pain, no sickness!
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3, 4 NIV)I have been shaken up over the last year with so many BIG things going on. Yet I still wholeheartedly know my God is good, holy, omnipotent, omniscient and His ways cannot be explained to our feeble human minds.
"You are good, and what you do is good... (Psalm 119:68 NIV)
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons;he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things;he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. (Daniel 2:20-22 NIV)
“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. (Isaiah 55:8, 9 NIV)
Be encouraged and take heart!
