Free will and God's will

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Depleted

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#241
#241
jsr1221 said:
I've read the book of Job. I get what you're saying. I'm going to have to respectfully disagree about the part saying I'm exactly where I should be, though. Sometimes being at home isn't the best case scenario. I refer you back to a spouse living in an abusive environment. Although none of that is going on here, it's definitely holding me back in many areas, including spiritually. I don't really feel like putting my whole personal history out there as to why this isn't a good situation.
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Someone I love dearly, (I'd say who, but it's that person's story to tell, so I'm not), was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused for the first 17 years of life. And the sexual abuse was by cousins first when 18 months old and then father at 14.

Saved by the Lord at 21.

Life got easier, but not easy. Some years were pretty normal. Others were the opposite of normal.

Yeah, it was all decreed by God to happen, like Job. Satan asked, God agreed. I've seen this person in action. Able to spot over abused people from a distant and can reach them in ways those of us who have never had that kind of abuse, (me, not saying if you are like me or not, but most people are like me), could ever reach. He's (got tired of skipping pronouns by now lol) a comfort. He's got strength few have. He's the type of person people believe, because he speaks from the heart.

AND mostly because God uses him to give other's comfort.

As I've said, I do not know why people seem to get the crappy end of the stick, but this I do know -- who else can comfort others who also got the crappy end of the stick? Who else can point to the Lord and tell them, "God helped and comforted even me" quite like someone who has been through the grinder?

When the world fell, it wasn't a mere 3 foot drop. What was to be never happened. The Lord told us what he thought of people before he set Noah in that boat.

Gen. 6:5
[FONT=&quot]he [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Lord[/FONT][FONT=&quot] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.[/FONT]

That didn't change. And yet, he puts people out there with tough backgrounds caused by people whose hearts are on evil continually to let others know.

I know. I would have killed myself decades ago, if he didn't give me those kinds of people exactly when I needed them the most.

I don't see you at your parent's house much longer. Whatever you're going through right now, probably royally stinks. But I suspect you'll get part of the "Why me, Lord" somewhere in your life. And, who knows? You might be as thrilled with the answer as Jonah was. lol (Read the end of the book, if you don't get the joke.)
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#243
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
77
48
#243
Depleted said:
Someone I love dearly, (I'd say who, but it's that person's story to tell, so I'm not), was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused for the first 17 years of life. And the sexual abuse was by cousins first when 18 months old and then father at 14.

Saved by the Lord at 21.

Life got easier, but not easy. Some years were pretty normal. Others were the opposite of normal.

Yeah, it was all decreed by God to happen, like Job. Satan asked, God agreed. I've seen this person in action. Able to spot over abused people from a distant and can reach them in ways those of us who have never had that kind of abuse, (me, not saying if you are like me or not, but most people are like me), could ever reach. He's (got tired of skipping pronouns by now lol) a comfort. He's got strength few have. He's the type of person people believe, because he speaks from the heart.

AND mostly because God uses him to give other's comfort.

As I've said, I do not know why people seem to get the crappy end of the stick, but this I do know -- who else can comfort others who also got the crappy end of the stick? Who else can point to the Lord and tell them, "God helped and comforted even me" quite like someone who has been through the grinder?

When the world fell, it wasn't a mere 3 foot drop. What was to be never happened. The Lord told us what he thought of people before he set Noah in that boat.

Gen. 6:5
[FONT=&quot]he [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Lord[/FONT][FONT=&quot] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.[/FONT]

That didn't change. And yet, he puts people out there with tough backgrounds caused by people whose hearts are on evil continually to let others know.

I know. I would have killed myself decades ago, if he didn't give me those kinds of people exactly when I needed them the most.

I don't see you at your parent's house much longer. Whatever you're going through right now, probably royally stinks. But I suspect you'll get part of the "Why me, Lord" somewhere in your life. And, who knows? You might be as thrilled with the answer as Jonah was. lol (Read the end of the book, if you don't get the joke.)
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There may be some disconnect. I understand what you're saying. I understand and do believe God uses everything for His purpose. It's why people like the person you know go through horrific stuff. Again, though. That doesn't mean God tells someone to do that kind of suffering to another for the entire time that person is on Earth. There are laws in place so that those sick individuals can get caught. Is everyone saved? Of course not. God doesn't want someone to go through life being miserable, though. Can a wife really be expected to say "Yes! My alcoholic husband gets to slap me around again. This is what I wanted, Lord"? I don't think God expects us to have that sort of mindset.
 
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trofimus

trofimus

Senior Member
#244
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#244
John146 said:
Let's hear your thoughts on Jonah. Did God change His mind or did God lie? Is there a third option? Please learn me.
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"For even the ancient inhabitants of your holy land...
you willed to destroy by the hands of our fathers.
But even these you spared as being human beings
and you sent wasps as forerunners of your army
in order to destroy them little by little.
It was not that you were unable to give the impious into the hands of the righteous in battle
or to wipe them out at a stroke by terrible beasts or by your stern word.
But judging them little by little you gave them opportunity to repent."

Wisdom of Salomon, 12:7-10, NETS
 
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