When
the cancer is in remission, we say, “God is good.” When the pay raise comes, we
announce “God is good.” When the university admits us or the final score favors
our team, “God is good.” Would we, and do we, say the same under different
circumstances? In the cemetery, as well as the nursery? In the unemployment
line, as well as the grocery line? In days of recession as much as in days of
provision?
Is God always good?
Is God always good?
For Brian and Christyn Taylor, the
question is more than academic. During this last year their seven-year-old
daughter was hospitalized for more than six months with six surgeries for a
disease of the pancreas, Brian’s job was discontinued, several family members
died and another was diagnosed with brain cancer, and Christyn was pregnant
with child number four. Life was tough. She blogged:
Multiple hospital stays with my
daughter were exhausting, but I held faith. Losing Brian’s family members one
by one until there was only one left, who was then diagnosed with stage 4 brain
cancer, was incomprehensible, but I still held faith. Being hospitalized
seven-and-a-half weeks with a placental abruption was terrifying, but I held
faith. I held to the faith that God works for my good, and though I did not
necessarily understand the trials, I trusted God’s bigger, unseen plan.
God and I had a deal- I would endure
the trials that came my way as long as he acknowledged
my stopping point. He knew where my line had been drawn, and I knew in my
heart he would never cross it. He did.
my stopping point. He knew where my line had been drawn, and I knew in my
heart he would never cross it. He did.
I delivered a stillborn baby girl.
With my daughter Rebecca still at home on a feeding tube and her future health
completely unknown, it was a foregone conclusion that this baby we so wanted
and loved would be saved. She wasn't. My line in the sand was crossed.
My one-way deal with God was shattered.
My one-way deal with God was shattered.
Everything changed in that moment.
Fear set in, and my faith began to crumble. My “safety zone” with God was no
longer safe. If this could happen in the midst of our greatest struggles, then
anything was fair game. For the first time in my life, anxiety began to
overwhelm me.
We can relate. Most, if not
all of us, have a contractual agreement with God. The fact that he hasn't signed it doesn't keep us from believing it.
I pledge to be a good, decent person, and in return God will…
save my child
heal my wife
protect my job
(fill in the blank)__________
only fair, right? Yet when God fails to meet our bottom-line expectations, we
are left spinning in a tornado of questions. Is he good at all? Is God angry at
me? Stumped? Overworked? Is his power limited? His authority restricted? Did
the devil outwit him? When life isn't good, what are we to think about our God?
Where is he in all this? He's there!... I'll answer this in detail in part 2.
Excerpt from Max Lucado's Book "You'll get through this"
Excerpt from Max Lucado's Book "You'll get through this"
Just what I needed to read, I am guilty of questioning God, but my faith is strengthened. Thanks for the blog. God bless you :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it blessed you Nontie! Yes, even days, I have doubts, and question God's plans. But in the end, I find, that it's so worth it! :)
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