Friday, September 11, 2009
This week I am speaking from James 1, on the subject of dealing with trials in our life. I started thinking about some of the trials I have gone through in my life. There have been quite a few. Most of us, when faced with trials, will begin to ask God why. Why is this happening to me? To quote from the song, "Why me, Lord? What did I ever do?"
I don't think we have to feel guilty when we ask God for a reason for our crisis. There are "spiritual" types who would argue that it is wrong to wonder why things are happening in our lives. Many times, asking such a question is the beginning of a way through, if not a way out, even if answers are not readily found. So, I think it's okay to ask God why, but don't expect God to tell you why. God doesn't offer reasons as much as He offers Himself.
Just reflect on the story of Job. That amazing book is not so much about Job's suffering as it is a book about the overwhelming presence of God. At the end of the book, after the bad advice of Job's friends, and after Job's own questions, God finally speaks. I think it's one of the longest speeches God makes in the Bible (Job 38 - 42). Yet God doesn't give Job a single answer to one of the questions that he raised.
God speaks out of a storm and says, "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me" (38:2-3).
And then God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" (38:4).
Fredrick Buechner commenting on this text wrote, "For four chapters in the Bible God doesn't explain, He explodes. God didn't give Job information. Instead, God gives Job revelation - of Who He was, and Who He is."
And how does Job respond? That answer was enough to make Job fall down and worship God. In chapter 42 Job says, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know" (42:2-3).
We can ask God why, but God may not give us an answer. He gives us something deeper. He give us something richer. He reveals Himself to us and His majestic sovereignty. Knowing God and His presence is much better than an answer anyway.
God is good all the time,
Pastor Tim
I don't think we have to feel guilty when we ask God for a reason for our crisis. There are "spiritual" types who would argue that it is wrong to wonder why things are happening in our lives. Many times, asking such a question is the beginning of a way through, if not a way out, even if answers are not readily found. So, I think it's okay to ask God why, but don't expect God to tell you why. God doesn't offer reasons as much as He offers Himself.
Just reflect on the story of Job. That amazing book is not so much about Job's suffering as it is a book about the overwhelming presence of God. At the end of the book, after the bad advice of Job's friends, and after Job's own questions, God finally speaks. I think it's one of the longest speeches God makes in the Bible (Job 38 - 42). Yet God doesn't give Job a single answer to one of the questions that he raised.
God speaks out of a storm and says, "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me" (38:2-3).
And then God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" (38:4).
Fredrick Buechner commenting on this text wrote, "For four chapters in the Bible God doesn't explain, He explodes. God didn't give Job information. Instead, God gives Job revelation - of Who He was, and Who He is."
And how does Job respond? That answer was enough to make Job fall down and worship God. In chapter 42 Job says, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know" (42:2-3).
We can ask God why, but God may not give us an answer. He gives us something deeper. He give us something richer. He reveals Himself to us and His majestic sovereignty. Knowing God and His presence is much better than an answer anyway.
God is good all the time,
Pastor Tim
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I believe an essential question to ask during difficult times is, "do I believe God is good?" This serves to orient us toward the wonder and goodness of God rather than the difficulty of our circumstances. Job declared, "I know my redeemer lives" meaning, any hope for deliverance would come from God. How then could he curse the very One with the power to deliver him.
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