January 7, 2005
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Still reading: Yancey , Where is God when it hurts?
Two more interesting points on p. 70
“The megaphone of pain sometimes, of course, produces the opposite effect: I can turn against God for allowing such misery. On the other hand, pain can, as it did with Chesterton, drive me to God.”
and
“It is hard to be a creature. We think we are big enough to run our own world without such messy matters as pain and suffering to remind us of our dependence. We think we are wise enough to make our own decisions about morality, to live rightly without the megaphone of pain blaring in our ears. We are wrong, as the Garden of Eden story proves. Man and woman, in a world without suffering chose against God.”
The last quote drew me up sharp. One of my belief systems states that if I had not received the abuse I received, then I would not have made so many wrong choices. Maybe that is true, but I can’t deny that two who lived in paradise also chose against God. Maybe I would have made some of the same mistakes even if I had lived in a home filled with love. Who knows.
The other thing is that I often think that the world would be a better place without pain and suffering. But maybe there is some benefits for it. Yet, I think some have an unequal share of pain, and that angers me.
Perhaps a value in God is that belief in Him pulls us out of the immediate pain, and gives us a broader perspective. I still wish I was not blind to where He was when I was a kid.
Heather
Comments (7)
I read that book early in my recovery from sexual abuse. In many ways it made me angrier than before I read it. I think that was part of the healing process to deal with the emotions that I had turned off or stuffed down. I wanted a different answer than the book expanded.
Here I am many years later, in a place of acceptance that in this world I will have pain. I also have the knowledge that this world is not all there is. There are times I long for heaven and the struggle to be over. God still has a job for me here.
I believe the enemy of our soul, Satan, tried to destroy me when we were young to keep me from God. God did allow it! That’s a point I’ve struggled with for years. He also has healed many of those hurts, “and restored the years the locust have eaten.” Satan meant to destroy me, God used it to built me and grow me. Today I can choose to be different than how I was raised. That’s part of the good news of the Gospel.
I will pray for you as you explore the path of healing. Open yourself up to God’s healing power. Come to a place of understanding and forgiveness. WHOLENESS!
May God bless your life and make you a testimony of His love. lala
Have you ever heard people say “the patience of Job?” BULL!!!
Endurance maybe, but even Job wanted to put God on trial though he knew deep down it would be futile. I hate when you tell someone something and they start quoting Job as if that’s supposed to be a comfort. I read Phillip Yancey’s book. He is one of my favorite authors for his honesty. When I read Where’s God …, it made me angry, but in the end it was very helpful. The answers aren’t easy, but nothing in this world is. And yes, even a life-long Christian, someone who was raised by loving parents who knew the balance between discipline and affection, can make some serious mistakes. If it wasn’t possible, I wouldn’t have landed myself in the situation I did.
Hmm, I have a slightly different take on the Adam-Lois-Eve thing but I’m glad if that book helps you at all. ::hugs::
12… yeah. Hehe. I want to say yayy snow but perhaps going to school in the ice is less fun. Haha. Hopefully they manage to enjoy the day.
Yes, warning labels definitely fascinated me as well.
::hugs::
<3
The thief Satan comes to steal,kill and destroy Jesus came to give us life more abundantly I do try to grasp things by faith because my carnal mind constantly wars with spiritual reasonings The two are not in agreement The ice in our town here in midwest Ohio destroyed many beautiful trees But my family is safe and warm right now God bless you today
Dear Lala, thanks for sharing that. I am hoping for restoration too. And I know that I did everything that I could do to destroy myself. I too chose to be different from how I was raised. I am glad that I succeeded in that.
Snowberry, Yancey’s book made me angry the first time that I read it too, don’t know what this second time will do. Job is the one book in the Bible that makes me upset too. I try to see it light of what my pastor has taught and what others have said, but frankly there are questions about God that are tough.
Adam-lois-Eve? Never saw Lois in the bible
. I don’t know if the book helps or not, but it is worth a try. I like a lot of Yancey’s books, and Kenpierpoint suggested another Yancey book along this line. I can’t find that one on my shelves, so pulled this one out. How was school? It is the weekend, yeah. Keeping you in my prayers.
Good Shepherd, glad you were safe, and that no one got hurt. I am not a lover of ice and there I lots of ice around here too. Too bad it is not like Camelot, where it snows during the day and disappears at night. Now there’s an idea. I want to trust faith, but faith is hard. I keep pursuing it though.
Hi Heather,
I am at work right now. I correct package labels for UPS. One came on my screen and I immediately thought of you and wanted to share the name with you (we get a lot of repeats, but this is the first time I saw this one). May it be a mini inspiration to you …
Heather’s Hope Foundation
I like where you are going and the progress you are making. Seems like at least some regularly. Certainly in a better place than you were before.
Wondering if today’s post on my sight might interest or be helpful to you? (I always hope they are in some way to someone . . . )
hug