Trying to understand

Is it just me or does it seem like Satan is really attacking our group lately? I don't mean like causing divisions or making people dislike one another or temptation. I am thinking more along the lines of giving us anguish in our lives, giving us grief, making us wonder why and how so many bad things can happen at one time.

Jack Baten
Maren & Regan
Jim Petty's cancer
The Irvines
Brian & Chelce Day
Dave Gibson's dad
Don Roberts
Claudia Hobbs

I really could go on a lot longer....

In our grief, in our trying to understand, do we doubt? I do. Do you ever wonder and cry out to God, "Why, God?! Why now, why so much? Don't you know how hard it is for us? Can't you see what me and my family are going through?" I've done that. I've done it recently.

You know, Michael Harbour always quotes John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble." Well, I'm sure glad I know that it will come, but nothing can prepare me and us for how hard the trials are; how difficult life becomes. Personally, all I can manage to say is "God, why didn't you give me a few more days with my grandfather? Is that too much to ask?"

As you know, I am a big proponent of the fact that there are a whole lot of people out there a lot smarter than I who can't explain God and His nature, so I don't even try. I take comfort in the fact that you don't have to have a Ph.D. or a 180 IQ to follow God and trust His glory and His plan. If we did understood God and why he allows us to go through trials, would we need Him? If we had His knowledge, would we rely on Him?

So how do we deal with these struggles? How do we handle this grief and pain? Is there an answer or a guide we can go to? Well, maybe not a guide, but an example.

Look at Jesus for a minute. How did he handle pain and loss and fear? When he lost his closest friend, Lazurus, he didn't just cry, he wept (John 11:34-35). When he was facing torture and death, he doubted, questioned and cried out for help (Matthew 26:39).

When Jesus faced grief and loss, he ran the gambit of emotions over and over again. And you know what? We can too. Cry out to God, search for Him, beg Him to show Himself to you, let Him hold you, let Him speak to you. If we ask him why He allows this world to give us so much pain, I think eventually we'll hear His answer:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world."

Sometimes I forget about the last part of that verse.

Love you all,
RK

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