I think it is about time for a new post. I made it through my ear surgery while grappling with God's Providence in bible study that week. All those questions that give you a head ache - Why does God allow evil? Where did evil come from? How much does God control and how much do we control? If God controls all things, then do our choices matter?... The verse that God kept repeating to me during the course of my own struggles is Romans 8:28 that in everything He works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. He has active, purposeful control in everything that happens in my life . "from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth - He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. (Psalm 33:14-15)"
All events are fully caused by God yet we also are fully responsible for our choices and actions. So how are we to respond to difficult things? I looked at Job's responses to suffering:
"The Lord gave and the Lord as taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised... Shall we accept good from God , and not trouble?...
In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind...To God belong wisdom and power, counsel and understanding are His. What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released. If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they devastate the land...
Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him...
Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man He pleads with God as a man pleads for His friend...
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth... But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I got the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the night, I do not see Him; When He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him, But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold…
I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth…
I know you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…My ears have heard you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job)
My prayer is that I can see God through the trials of my life and not blame Him but worship Him that He is more than I can understand or imagine and that I can trust him because He is good and wise, even when I do not see why.
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