What can I possibly write about today's advent? Hope never disappoints. That's the theme. But how do you tell that to anyone in the middle of grief? How do you share that with someone whose world is crumbling about them?
In my young adult years, there was a popular book out called When Bad Things Happen to Good People. The author was interviewed in every magazine and on every talk show. Harold Kusher wrote the book following the death of his fourteen year old son who died from a genetic disorder.
How do we look to God and believe Him to be good when the awful things happen? It often feels as though we personally are being punished; that we are forsaken by the very God we have loved and trusted in, doesn't it? If, like myself, you've actually taken the time to read the Old Testament over and over again, it seems plausible at times that he might well punish us.
But let us look at who He says He is. He tells us He is our Father. A father disciplines but does not destroy. He wants good things for His children. He shows love but does not spoil. He guides and teaches, his ultimate goal being to raise up a man or woman who displays His characteristics. And so Paul rightly states in Romans that we should view our sufferings as a training of our character, which helps us to grow in faith, in hope. Bad things happen, yes they do. But God is good. He gives hope to the hopeless.
2 comments:
Hi Terri,
This post brought to mind a point I read, years ago, found in C.S. Lewis' book, MERE CHRISTIANITY. It was Lewis' analogy that the good Lord is like a fountain that provides our necessary, life-giving water. We... as humans with free-will... have the choice to drink from this fountain... and to stay / live near it... or... to not. It was his conjecture that oftentimes bad/sad or uncomfortable things happen because we have unconsciously (or consciously) decided not to drink of the life-giving waters offered via the fountain. Or... we've simply wandered too far away from it. Thus, it was his firm belief that when bad things happen it is not so much that the good Lord is punishing us but quite simply a consequence of our own actions (or non actions whatever the case may be). Of course... this doesn't apply to every situation... sometimes His plans need to be fulfilled. (He sees the bigger picture while we do not.) And, of course, we can't control what other people do (but we CAN control our reaction to others' behavior... something I am working on perpetually haha). That being said, it's been my own personal experience (embarrassingly) that Lewis' fountain analogy is quite often more accurate than not!
Thanks so much for the thought provoking posts, as always!
Love,
Tracey
XoX
P.S. Have you seen the movie SHADOWLANDS from the 90's? It's a classic, beautiful film about C.S. Lewis. I HIGHLY recommend it!
Tracey I have seen "Shadowlands" and loved it. I need to read C.S.Lewis. I shall put his books on my list for the coming year.
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