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What do you do when you hit a faith crisis? When all of the sudden something happens and you look at God with fresh eyes, heartbroken, stunned, and all at once wary of Him and the nature of His character. These are the big waves. Waves of struggle, suffering, heartbreak, confusion.
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Is God good? Yes. But, this hasn’t been a bump in the road. Nor a detour that would lead back to the main highway after
some enjoyable distance. This season has been a fork leading an entirely new
direction. Unexpected. Uncharted. Seemingly unending.
.
Is God good? These
present sufferings are in His capable hands. He is God in the rain and in the
sunshine. Through the dark night of the soul and in our peaceful sleep. In want
and in plenty. In crushing defeat that sends us spinning out and in joyous
victory that causes whoop-whooping and laughter. God is good. He can’t be
anything else.
Laurie
McClure
When we do have to bury a child.
When we do have to go into ICU.
When we do have to struggle with
unemployment or addiction. ~ Max
“My tears have been my food day and night while people
say to me all day long, ’Where is your God?’” — Psalm 42:3
When I was a little kid, I was afraid of
the ocean. Not of standing on the shore running back and forth with the
whitewash.
Not of the sight, smell, or chill of the
water. I was afraid of the waves.
My dad would snatch me up and take me out
into the water so I felt safe ducking under the big waves as he held me in the
ocean’s sway.
Even though I was terrified, I knew he
wouldn’t let me go. I might come up sputtering and gasping for a big breath but
he wouldn’t let stay under too long. He had me.
And after we’d endured the washing machine
long enough, we’d eventually crawl out exhausted, salty, and happy, and ready
for a PB&J sandwich… and I felt a little more brave.
I expected that kind of safety with God.
But, He didn’t offer it. How about you?
Has God crossed the line in the sand with
you?
Maybe it was your job, or your savings that
went up in smoke.
Maybe you could no longer pay your rent or
mortgage.
Maybe your loved one got sick. Your dream
business shut down.
Your wedding was put off or cancelled.
Maybe your marriage has been put to the test during this season and it failed.
Maybe the thing you’ve been banking on just
died right in front of your face. And there was nothing you could do about it.
At some point after a series of upending
crisis after crisis, I started giving God the side-eye.
Because I thought that if I devoted my life
to Him that He would preserve and protect what I treasured and wanted.
Surely, He wouldn’t let it all go up in
smoke. But He did.
It’s only fair, right? I’ll do my part and
God will do His part. ~
Max
I have control issues. I didn’t know that
until I got the snot kicked out of me emotionally, mentally, maritally,
financially, psychologically, and spiritually. It got hot with God and me, and
fast.
You’ve been there, right? If we can be honest, I’ve had moments of
doubt…
God is good.
But, is He?
Or maybe God is good, He just isn’t good to
me.
What do you do when you hit a faith crisis?
When all of the sudden something happens
and you look at God with fresh eyes, heartbroken, stunned, and all at once wary
of Him and the nature of His character.
Recently, I had to ask myself those
questions again.
I remember thinking that maybe I’ve known a
safe, elementary version of God in the past but since all hell continues to
break loose, He’s very different that I thought He was.
Is God good? Yes.
But, this hasn’t been a bump in the road.
Nor a detour that would lead back to the main highway after some enjoyable
distance.
This season has been a fork leading an entirely
new direction. Unexpected. Uncharted. Seemingly unending.
Is God good?
This question has been one of the most
important in my life.
My answer is yes. Whether or not He does
what I expect. Whether or not life goes the way I wish it would.
Whether or not I would do things
differently and I don’t understand His plan.
These present sufferings are in His capable hands.
Joseph understands that God is sovereign.
God is overseeing both the seven good years and the seven tough years. ~ Max
Joseph is the one with confidence!.. Every
time Joseph opens his mouth to Pharaoh, he mentions God. ~ Max
He is God in the rain and in the sunshine.
Through the dark night of the soul and in our peaceful sleep.
In want and in plenty. In crushing defeat
that sends us spinning out and in joyous victory that causes whoop-whooping and
laughter.
”Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting
shadows.” — James 1:17
As Hebrews 13:8 says,
”Jesus doesn’t change — yesterday, today, and tomorrow
— He’s always totally Himself.” (MSG)
God is good. He can’t be anything else.
In famine, flood, or fire, God is good.
Through betrayal, bankruptcy, or abandonment, He is good.
Are you in the big waves, friend? Come up
for a big breath, and remember, God is good.
Prayer
Jesus, we love You. You are good. You are good. You are
good.
Thank You for Joseph’s example of referring to You and
trusting in You even in his unreal circumstances.
Help us to see You and believe in You no matter what
happens. Help us to know Your goodness and Your sovereignty and to lean on it!
We love You, Lord.
Amen.
Laurie McClure
Laurie
is a Jesus apprentice, a single mama of five (three homegrown, one Kentuckian,
and one Ethiopian), a writer, a beach lover, and she is addicted to radical
grace, Perrier, and yoga pants. Here at FaithGateway she is the editor, the
curator, and the leader of Faith.Full, our women's community.
https://www.faithgateway.com/youll-get-through-this-week-4-is-god-good-when-life-isnt/#.YBGiU6QzbZ4
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