The good, the bad, the ugly...it's all him.
Thankfully, God plays a much deeper game than we mere mortals do. It's what gives me my hope.
Whenever something bad happens, I don't belabor the point (or at least I try not to). It happened.
Instead, I try to see what good may come of it. Sometimes you have to go through some sour to get to the sweet. Very little of lasting worth happens on a fluke without toil. Sometimes you go through the sour, because God knows you can handle it and someone else gets the sweet who couldn't. Often times, you look at something and you really can't figure out where the good is at all.
Through it all, I believe this life has a purpose and God is in control. We humans are limited to the little part of the world and time we occupy. God's plans span generations. If my getting in a car accident would prevent some future robotic dictator from enslaving humanity someway/somehow....well, I guess I'm going to get in a car accident. I won't be happy about it when it happens, mind you. I am only human.
My belief that everything happens for God's reasons helps me on a daily basis even when I don't know what that reason is.
That said, I still believe it's our job as humans to use all of our abilities and face every challenge like it's not predetermined. God lets us make our choices, even if he's in control. If anything, I think that working your hardest to solve a problem and facing a failure can be healthy. If it's something God wants for you, He will make it happen.
By failing, God can then have your full attention if he decides to solve the problem for you. It rewards your effort with something beyond your abilities while reserving the glory for Him.
The pastor today gave an example. Originally, they wanted to build a 50,000 sq ft church. They failed.
Then, they crunched all the numbers and decided to try to build a 30,000 sq ft church. Also a fail.
Finally, the pastor said he 'felt stupid' and like it wasn't going to happen when a Budweiser facility went up for sale. The church ended up being housed in an 83,000 sq ft facility they could never have afforded to build!
Don't get upset, because you may miss something. Trust that there's a plan, grow, and go forward. If you break, it's not the end. Sometimes the best way to fix something is to break it down so you can build it back up. It's unfortunate, and it's not fun, but the stakes are more than just your life here and now.
I've always liked Proverbs 27:17. A blacksmith has to pound impurities out of his work. It sucks to be the work for the pounding, but it's the only way to make something of worth. If you view trials and tribulations as the blacksmiths work, it's easier to grit your teeth, and trust the Master is going to bang you into something worthwhile.
Anyway, this is a poorly written attempt at explaining some of how I think. I feel like I'm half asleep and I'm not proofreading well. I still wanted to put up something related to my outlook on life. Carrie and I are going on a vacation without Shane and I don't like Shane being removed from my care for too long. It's not that I think anything would happen, but I do believe it's better to get some of the things I want Shane to know about me online if something were to happen ever.
Jesus is my hope.
Merry Christmas all.
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