REMEMBERING
REMEMBERING
The bad days seem to come to our minds rather easily: The day my father died, the day I said something to hurt my wife’s feelings, the day I failed…you can fill in the blank. The goods days seem to take a little bit more effort to remember; although I remember the night I proposed, my wedding, the day each of my daughters was born, and the day I got my dog!
September 11th is upon us and it has been 10 years since we watched in horror, disbelief and anger at the murder of thousands of innocent men and women. We also witnessed incredible bravery and sacrifice by those whose only thoughts were to save as many as they could from the burning buildings.
God does not promise us an explanation for everything we face in this world, at least not an explanation we may like. For the believer we know the promise of Romans 8:28, but we must understand that what God sees as good for us may not be all that pleasant in our minds. He sees perfectly while our vision is clouded by sin and our own selfishness. But the events that, to us, seem chaotic, cruel, or without justification are not without purpose; that does not make them any more tolerable! Almost everyone can look back at a broken relationship, failed job, sickness, struggle, or time of pain and see some purpose in it now that you are far enough removed. That is not saying it is only time that heals, for you may not have healing, but you may have understanding.
Either we believe that God is in control of everything, or we believe that we are God; because who wants a god who can’t do the difficult things. He is not like us. He does not fail, He does not only attempt, He does not endeavor: our Heavenly Father does what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants because it is good – as defined by the only One who is and knows what is good. I am not a fatalist, but sometimes the only answer we have is: Because that’s the way He wants it to be. Can you be satisfied if that is all He gives you?
If you have doubts, let me remind you of something, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)