Last weekend we had the annual Hawaiian International Ministry Conference. Every year they have several speakers come and share with Christian churches in Hawaii.
Some of the discussion was centered around the loss of loved ones. A wife shared how she lost her husband, a mother shared how she lost her son to suicide, and as you know, the city Lahaina in Maui had a devastating fire. And questions about God's sovereignty can arise. Why the suffering, grief, pain, and loss? Couldn't God have prevented these things? What about all the prayers of the church? How do we interpret Romans 8:28 in light of our grief and loss? Does God really work all things for the good of those who love him? The short answer is Yes, yes he does. And one speaker shared how our definition of "good" is often what we would prefer or a more comfortable life. However, God's definition of "good" is found in the follow verse Romans 8:29, that we are to be conformed to the image of His Son and to look more like Jesus.
Everyone goes through challenging hardships. Every person I've counseled has a story or circumstance of trial, stress, and difficulty. And if you haven't been through tough times, you most likely will. Where life doesn't go exactly the way you hoped. Where unexpected tragedies happen. We live in a fallen world where people sin against God and each other. One of the toughest books in the Bible to understand is Job. If you're unfamiliar with it, God allowed Job to face severe distress from every angle. God also knowing Job was faithful to endure such testing even under spiritual warfare. Even though Job lost everything including his entire family, livestock, and health, He continued to praise and glorify God. To me that is remarkable. For someone to lose their love ones and go through such pain in this world, and to yet only give God praise. God blessed Job for his faith. If we went through the same suffering as Job did, would we still praise God?
In several instances you see Christians praying and seeking God, and for whatever reason, God doesn't immediately show up, but instead asks us to wait. In many cases you see Christians asking for miracles, healing, and answers to their questions and prayers. God does not need to answer us the way we expect, and in many cases does not give us the direct answer as we'd wish. I've come to see that God will often use disappointment and life challenges to draw us nearer to Him. God sharpens and sanctifies our faith through the fire, and through the storm. God never promises an easy and comfortable life. If our trials and suffering in this life lead to a refined and stronger faith in God, we should actually welcome the opportunities when they arise, to manifest our faith in deep trust.
God works on us even when we don't sense or feel His presence. God is with us even when we have no knowledge of His Spirit at work. I've been hoping to hear from God, and come to Him with questions I'd like clarity on, but we are not entitled to get an answer the way we want. Rather, God often doesn't provide clear answers to all our hard questions. In fact, we're often left with mystery. And in this life may not know why things happen the way they do. But what we can know is that God is good, and we can place our hope and trust in Him, that He is working all things for our good and even more importantly His highest good.
Everyone goes through challenging hardships. Every person I've counseled has a story or circumstance of trial, stress, and difficulty. And if you haven't been through tough times, you most likely will. Where life doesn't go exactly the way you hoped. Where unexpected tragedies happen. We live in a fallen world where people sin against God and each other. One of the toughest books in the Bible to understand is Job. If you're unfamiliar with it, God allowed Job to face severe distress from every angle. God also knowing Job was faithful to endure such testing even under spiritual warfare. Even though Job lost everything including his entire family, livestock, and health, He continued to praise and glorify God. To me that is remarkable. For someone to lose their love ones and go through such pain in this world, and to yet only give God praise. God blessed Job for his faith. If we went through the same suffering as Job did, would we still praise God?
In several instances you see Christians praying and seeking God, and for whatever reason, God doesn't immediately show up, but instead asks us to wait. In many cases you see Christians asking for miracles, healing, and answers to their questions and prayers. God does not need to answer us the way we expect, and in many cases does not give us the direct answer as we'd wish. I've come to see that God will often use disappointment and life challenges to draw us nearer to Him. God sharpens and sanctifies our faith through the fire, and through the storm. God never promises an easy and comfortable life. If our trials and suffering in this life lead to a refined and stronger faith in God, we should actually welcome the opportunities when they arise, to manifest our faith in deep trust.
God works on us even when we don't sense or feel His presence. God is with us even when we have no knowledge of His Spirit at work. I've been hoping to hear from God, and come to Him with questions I'd like clarity on, but we are not entitled to get an answer the way we want. Rather, God often doesn't provide clear answers to all our hard questions. In fact, we're often left with mystery. And in this life may not know why things happen the way they do. But what we can know is that God is good, and we can place our hope and trust in Him, that He is working all things for our good and even more importantly His highest good.
Here's what I did learn. If you seek God with all of your heart and soul, you will find Him. God is a personal God, and does not abandon or forsake us. Yes there are times where it may feel like a Dark Night of the Soul where it seems very hard to hear from God, but God uses those times as well. God's word is true, the Gospel is true, and Jesus is the way, truth, and life. If these are true statements, we must then therefore dedicate and commit our lives to growing in the likeness of Christ and living for Him.
God showed up for me. If you listen very carefully, God will speak to you in a variety of ways. No, He didn't answer all my questions. But what He did do, is remind me that He is with me. God is with me, even when I don't feel or sense Him. In the future there will be times where I have no sense of God, but God tells me He will be with me even then. Whatever the future holds, God will be right there in sovereign control.
God showed up for me. If you listen very carefully, God will speak to you in a variety of ways. No, He didn't answer all my questions. But what He did do, is remind me that He is with me. God is with me, even when I don't feel or sense Him. In the future there will be times where I have no sense of God, but God tells me He will be with me even then. Whatever the future holds, God will be right there in sovereign control.
God desires for us to let go of the things that weigh us down. What are our eyes set upon? So often we look at the dark ocean of chaos below us and rely on our own strength to solve our problems, rather than keep our eyes on Jesus. So often we are so focused on our problems we miss a deep communion with God. God asks us to let go of our pain, our depression, our anxiety, our anger, and sorrow. He desires that we simply sit at His feet and abide in Him. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Come to Him for healing. God is our ultimate source for love, peace, and joy. God wants us to forgive others, and forgives us of all our sin. God's power and grace is greater and covers all our sins. We are not only forgiven, but are imputed the righteousness of Christ and made holy. We are justified and declared right in God's sight. We can approach the throne of God in confidence because of His grace. We need to be reminded of these truths. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
