June 19, 2005
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Currently reading WHY? Trusting God When You Don’t Understand by Anne Graham Lotz.
It makes some interesting points about trusting the hand of God even when you don’t experience it or see it. That God can help you soar over your problems, etc.
Beth Moore also had traumas that she had to overcome, Joyce Meyer, lots of spiritual leaders seem to have had these challenges.
One underlying factor in their lives though seems to be that they had God first, then the problems came up. And they had the basis of their relationship with God to lean on.
What troubles me, is (very selfishly) people in my situation, where the troubles were intense before I even really knew that God existed, when I was a child.
I know that troubles are tough no matter whether or not you believe in God, but why would God (who knows our complete lives before we were born), throw such a challenge on a child before they have any feet to stand on. I know that it took a long time for me to sort out things enough to ask God into my life, but I also know that there are many from similar situations to mine, some on Xanga, that have turned their backs on God, like I did for 40 years, only they won’t turn back to God.
Why would a loving God risk his relationship with his children by putting such obstacles in their path.
I don’t know if I am asking this question clearly or not. But sometimes when I read a book by whom I consider to be a very spiritual person and they talk about how their faith pulled them through the trial, it hurts, because I wasn’t given that faith by God first, before the fiery trials. Makes me wonder. Sorry for the pity party, but things are tough right now emotionally for me.
Any ideas?
Heather
Comments (12)
You could say, ‘how could He allow one of His children to go through something like that.’ – the other people your speaking of. I don’t know Heather, it boggles my mind but I’m so glad you know Him now and He is bringing healing.
Hi Heather! Just wanted to say Hello1
Getty
Heather,
I would be considered one of those people that you describe (I so love Joyce Meyer and have declared I want to grow up to be like her and have a ministry as awesome as hers). I came to the Lord when I was eight, and it was after that that all the bad things in my life hapened. Drunken father who went into dangerous rages that destroyed our home, abuse, physical fights with my father, feelings of inadequacy and terror, etc. I say I don’t know how I got through it without God.
But then I meet people like you who did get through it without God and found Him later and I am amazed at how He uses your testimony to reach others who are going through the same things. You are helping people meet the God who has helped you in the years since you found Him. I don’t think He risked His relationship with you. His desire is that none of His children perish. His desire is that we come to know Him in the fullness of His love and grace. I see it as a detour that led you straight to Him.
I’m sorry your father wasn’t nice. These are some hard questions. One thought I had was how about not putting it all on God and remember that there is a real devil in this world who’s aim is only to steal, kill and destroy whoever he can get his hands on. Yes God has allowed it….but if He made everyone choose Him and His ways, how is that love? We all have the free will to choose or reject what is right. Unfortunately, we choose sin. Unfortunately our sin, hurts others. That’s why if we don’t tap into the power of God to overcome, we really can’t change or be healed. I hate it that some people’s sin in this world hurt innocent children…..that’s a really tough one…….in the end of all things, justice will be served and God will be the judge. He will judge fairly and rightly. That is my one comfort in all this world full of sin and pain. We were created for eternity without sin……..we live in a temporal world full of sin……we are in a war, whether we acknowledge it or not. Heaven looks better and better to me all the time.
I know God pulled you to him,and you found him,through all the paths you took in your life. Beth Moore,Joyce Meyer use their experiences to minister to other women.I heard Beth Moore say that she wouldnt want anyone to have to live through what she did ,but that God is using that in her ministry. I dont think we should compare any part of our walk with someone elses,because our relationship with Christ is individual. Look how God used Peter,Paul,Joseph,David.Each experience was different,but God used each one for his glory-to show evidence of Him working in their life. Your experiences are unique to you Heather, and your using your expereince with God to minister to others. I grew up in church,in church all my life,but I didnt allow God to work in me till I was 25. God is Sovereign, we have to trust him,although we cant understand everything. Dont know if this helped,or if I understood correctly,but hugs to you from your sister in Christ!
I honestly think (now) that obstacles are really life’s lessons. If we “graduate” then we go on to new lessons. When we keep repeating the same things we haven’t learned the lesson. Life is about learning. A lot of life isn’t easy. It helps to have faith. Regardless, we are going to go through the same challenges.
I don’t think Joyce Meyer was a christian when she went thru what she did as a child. In fact, I heard her say she wasn’t even a chrisitan when her and Dave got married.
Keep seeking, sister, and you WILL find!!!!
love you and have a wonderful day!!!!
Hey girl…
I know the past hurts…BUT…I love that ‘but’ because you can say ‘But God’…He pulled you through. Even though you did not know Him then, He was still working in your life. He was still doing things for you. He was there all along. Now that YOU have come to Him, He can make Himself known to you and know you can rely on Him. Why things happened to you? I don’t know. I do know we all have a free will and the decisions we make, do affect others all around us. If our parents make bad decisions, it affects us as children in the same way if we has parents make bad choices, it will affect our kids. We are not puppets on a string and there is sin in the world. The Lord has given us all a free will. Sometimes we abuse that free will and in turn, hurt others by it. I was on the phone last night for over 3 hours with a young girl who is struggling very badly with suicide, hurting herself, emotional distress and a lot of it is due to her parents and their decisions. It does stink girl that we have to go through ‘stuff’ and some more than others. I would look at the situation as a whole. You made it through, you survived, yes you have hurts, but you survived and now you have a wonderful Loving God who wants to help with those hurts and get you over the hurdle and possibly use you to help others in the same situation! We all have questions for Him and that is ok…..but sometimes we need to forget the ‘whys’ and just say ok Lord…whatever Your will is, just help me, guide me along the way. Love Lisa
Heather, I think that is a question that a lot of people ask…where was God to protect the children that have not yet been brought to Him…but like others said He was there…things could have been worse and your path was guided all along on your journey to Him.
A friend of mine refers to her life as an antique clay pot. She is old, worn, faded and cracked, but with all those flaws she is still unique, valuable and loved. Her light that shines through all those cracks and chips are what makes her so special…they reflect the life she HAD and how it has brought her to be the much desired pot she is today. She calls her self a story…imagine a pot with all its flaws and weak spots and collectors still look with anticipation to find one just like her. God is shining in your cracks and chips and because of what you went through in your life makes you, who you are today and helps you to minister to others.
For some people it would have been easier to have filled in those cracks and chips and be shiny and perfect and look like new, but then there is no story to tell! Thank you for letting your cracks be seen and for letting your light shine through it!!!!
Kim
I know that intellectually, you know the answer to your own question about God and His children. We know of the refining through fire. Only those with faith to endure will be purified as fine gold (pure gold btw is a soft, pliable, moldable metal, which is why it is often mixed with other metals in jewelry).
I’m one of those you describe. It was my faith that pulled me through, and I don’t know how I would have survived without it. This was a big bone of contention for me with my mother. It was shortly after she was baptized and gave her life to Christ that she became sick with the cancer that would ultimately be her physical downfall. I often asked why God would take her when she was finally ready to follow and serve Him. Then, someone pointed out that it was awesome of God to wait for her before putting her through such a trial, and calling her home. This became a great comfort to me and helped me deal with it a lot better (that was 10 years after she died … it is 20 years this summer).
I don’t know what she would have done if she didn’t have her faith to pull through. Her story could have ended very differently, and that would have affected my own faith, since God used the example of her faith to work through me. Every testimony is a miracle in itself, but I see yours as a mirable on a grander scale for the sheer fact that you didn’t have the comfort of hope that faith brings. Maybe you will be the one to write the book for those who suffered and later came to faith, or have not yet come to faith because of their struggles.
I don’t have the answer to the why, but I do have thoughts on the matter…… Reading the book,” The Purpose Driven Life” has given me much comfort with those kind of questions. From page one it told me , It’s NOT about ME !! It is about the relationship God has meant for Him and I to have. If I believe that the Bible is the word of God, then I must believe that everything that happens to me is part of God’s devine plan and happens for a reason because He doesn’t make mistakes. He is a God of order. So, I must accept that there will be alot that I will not understand until God chooses to reveal the reasons. In the meantime, I can choose to believe that I am precious to God and that He has plans to prosper me .I can increase my trust by reading the stories in the Bible and from the experiences of others as well as examining how He and has been there in my own life . I have come to believe that the doubt and confusion created by the questions is really a ploy of Satan to keep us distracted..and apart from God. The truth is that it doesn’t really matter if our relationship came before or after our trials, the facts remain the same… Jesus Christ was sacrificed and died in our place so that we may be reunited with God our Father for eternity. Regardless of the what, when, and from where that got us here, the important issue is, do we accept this gift? Do we live our lives like we know this is the absolute truth? Will our behavior intrigue others and intice them to seek God? Trials in themselves can also be opportunities for God to prove His faithfulness to us. Keep your eyes open, you’ll see…… ((Hugs))
You should check out ccrowe‘s post today it is really good! I might have to check out that book, too.