There is a verse in Job that disturbs me. It is when God grants Satan permission to afflict Job. "Very well, then, he is in your hands but you must spare his life." As Christians, we like to believe that we are somehow exempt from certain types of evil. Last week, our own Carol Davis had a coworker murdered on her way home. It is unnerving to realize how vunerable we really are.
We like to think as Christians we have an inside to the mind and will of God and we do. But perhaps not to the degree we like to imagine. As the apostle Paul said, "We are looking through dark glass." God reveals himself to us in his grace but we must remember God is incomprehensible. As God put it, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." Isaiah 55:8 KJV
We are dependent upon the mercy of God. We cannot fathom him or correctly interpret him. We are left trusting him and that is the message of Job. Even though God allow Satan certain liberties, it had to be granted. God oversees all things including the hair count on your head. God is sovereign and he will not allow anything to happen that is not within his will including the freedom of men.
So what do I do when I face a world bigger than me and cannot always fathom the ways of God? I remember the words of Paul when he said, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." I Corinthians 10:13
Not that we are talking about temptation and not troubles. There are tragedies in this life that will bowl us over. We are designed to handle the death of loved ones and the horror of evil men. There are times in our lives where we will be taken to our knees. That is to be expected. Life is hard. But when we are tempted in those times to doubt God and to become bitter, God will provide us a way through it.
So don’t lament too long the unfairness and cruelty of life. Rather seek God for the strength and guidance to stand up to it. Even when you cannot see the purpose or understand the reason, he will give you the peace and patience to trust him and be made better for it. We cannot understand the mind of God but we know enough to trust him completely.
Michael
Pray for Carol in the loss of her friend and the fear it creates.
Intentional Faith 