One of the more challenging aspects of being a Christian is accepting that, for all the idealism that the Bible portrays, things don't always turn out like rainbows and daisies. We don't always get what we've asked God for. Sometimes it feels like a grave injustice is being done to us and God isn't doing something when we think he should. Bad things happen to good, decent people, and all the while bad people are getting along just fine. Even the theologically minded person occasionally wants to step back and say, "Wait a minute! This doesn't make sense! How could God be allowing this?"
"God Is..."
The Bible attaches many great and magnificent descriptions to God. God is called love (1 John 4:8). God loves us all (John 3:16). God is said to provide our needs (Matthew 6). God works things for the good of those who follow him (Romans 8:28). God promises he will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God gives us justice (Luke 18:7). God is our strength (Psalm 28:7). God comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:4).
In passages like these and others in the Bible we find ourselves beholding an incredible, endearing God.
"Such Is Life"
Yet in our daily lives, it can often seem like these promises about God are missing - or even being contradicted. Where is God when jobs are being lost? When debt is piling up and there's no way to repay them? Children dying at entirely too young of ages. Wars ravaging the world because leaders with corrupt desires reign. People close to us do us wrong. When families hate each other, and neighbors steal from one another.
Besides these things, there's also how daily life, compared to things that happened in the Bible, is actually pretty boring. I haven't seen any tongues of fire lately. Not many prophets predicting the start or end of the drought. Indeed it seems like most days I'm just carrying on with my business.
"I Don't Know, And It's OK"
Isaiah 55:8-9 says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
1 Corinthians 13:12 reads: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Where is God when these things happen? With us, of course. But perhaps the bigger question - why does he allow these to occur? Or to cover another point, why is God often so quiet? The answer is, "I don't know."
That's a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow. It causes some to struggle to keep their faith. Others give up on it altogether. I'm fully aware of this, how there are experiences all around which seem to contradict the idea of a good, loving God.
It's one of those things which the Bible doesn't give us an answer to. As someone who wants to understand everything, that can be hard to accept. But I do accept it, because my experiential and apologetics knowledge tell me that I can trust God is good, loving, and just. And that even in the face of what seems like overwhelming evil and wrong taking place, ultimately God is the only one I can rely on.
"God Is..."
The Bible attaches many great and magnificent descriptions to God. God is called love (1 John 4:8). God loves us all (John 3:16). God is said to provide our needs (Matthew 6). God works things for the good of those who follow him (Romans 8:28). God promises he will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). God gives us justice (Luke 18:7). God is our strength (Psalm 28:7). God comforts us (2 Corinthians 1:4).
In passages like these and others in the Bible we find ourselves beholding an incredible, endearing God.
"Such Is Life"
Yet in our daily lives, it can often seem like these promises about God are missing - or even being contradicted. Where is God when jobs are being lost? When debt is piling up and there's no way to repay them? Children dying at entirely too young of ages. Wars ravaging the world because leaders with corrupt desires reign. People close to us do us wrong. When families hate each other, and neighbors steal from one another.
Besides these things, there's also how daily life, compared to things that happened in the Bible, is actually pretty boring. I haven't seen any tongues of fire lately. Not many prophets predicting the start or end of the drought. Indeed it seems like most days I'm just carrying on with my business.
"I Don't Know, And It's OK"
Isaiah 55:8-9 says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
1 Corinthians 13:12 reads: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Where is God when these things happen? With us, of course. But perhaps the bigger question - why does he allow these to occur? Or to cover another point, why is God often so quiet? The answer is, "I don't know."
That's a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow. It causes some to struggle to keep their faith. Others give up on it altogether. I'm fully aware of this, how there are experiences all around which seem to contradict the idea of a good, loving God.
It's one of those things which the Bible doesn't give us an answer to. As someone who wants to understand everything, that can be hard to accept. But I do accept it, because my experiential and apologetics knowledge tell me that I can trust God is good, loving, and just. And that even in the face of what seems like overwhelming evil and wrong taking place, ultimately God is the only one I can rely on.