As I listen to conversations around me, I am struck by the number of times that I hear "Why does God allow suffering?" "Why me?" "What did I do wrong?" It is in these questions that I find that we have an opportunity to continue to break our cycles that entangle us.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says "3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so can can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort flows." (NIV).
One of the traps that is laid for us is that if we suffer, God can and will fix everything and our troubles will go away. This last statement is true, God can and will fix everything (though in His time and in His way). But the trap of Satan is more that when God does not do it in our time or way, he sneaks in and forms a wedge between us and God. And at that point he (Satan) uses everything at his disposal to widen that divide.
I want you to think about things from a slightly different perspective. Remembering that God desires a relationship with us (way more than we show that we desire one with Him), we have to view God as an active partner in our relationship. How many of you have ever been in a relationship where someone was the taker (only) and one was the giver (only) - or at least that is how it looked. How long did you allow yourself to be taken advantage of - or conversely how long did you take advantage of the other person?
It is right that we should seek God in our times of trouble. Just like it is right that we should seek Him in our times of questioning, in our times of gladness, in our times of sadness, in our times of loudness, and in our times of quiet. The point is that we should be seeking God's face in every time and action.
Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all of the days of my life, and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek him in his temple." (NIV)
Living IN the presence of the Lord should be our greatest desire. If we do this, it does not mean that we will not suffer, but it will build and rebuild our centered relationship with God so that in our times of suffering, we can know peace and that God is in control.
God does not cause suffering. But God does use suffering to stretch us, to shape us, and to guide us.
We go to God to seek comfort. And through the comfort that we receive, we are able to comfort others. We can not do anywhere near the greatness of God, but though receiving comfort from God, we can help others to reach for God's comfort. While breaking out of a cycle that works against, we can enter into another that works for us.
In working with recovery, there is a tenant that states if you take something away (negative influence coupled with negative behavior) you must replace it with a mutually beneficial positive influence.
Think about what you are adding and subtracting or deposits and withdrawals in your life.
What are you working towards?
Who are you seeking your guidance from?
I want to leave you today with one of my favorite passages.
Psalm 121:1-2 " 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (NIV)
If you are struggling tonight, honestly assess where is your help coming from. God desires to be with you in all things. You just have to take the second step. He already took the first when He sent his one and only Son to die for you and for me. Ask for His hand and say thanks.
Blessings upon each and every one of you. God truly loves us more than we can possibly fathom.
Pastor Jim
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