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Confession #29 - Analyze This, that and everything else

A few weeks ago a friend was in distress.  She was going through a situation with a fellow church goer who was verbally attacking her for seemingly no reason.  While trying to offer her some Godly guidance she couldn't hear me because she was constantly asking, "Why?"  "I don't understand, why is she doing this to me?"  "What did I do to deserve this?"  She was so focused on trying to analyze the "why" of the situation she was unable to hear what God wanted me to say to her. 

We often do the same thing with God.  "Why God why?"  "When God When?"  "Who God Who?"  "What about this?"  "What about that?"  "How could this have happened?"  "Why did you allow this to happen to me?"  We want to analyze this, that and everything else until we completely understand the what, the why, and the how in an effort to avoid future pain, loss and disappointment.  I have been there, done that. 

This summer my friend's home burnt to the ground in the Colorado fires.  I was horrified for her and found myself questioning God.  My Aunt's beautiful home on Staten Island  is nearly under water thanks to the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy.  I asked Him, "Why did this have to happen Lord?"   When a friend of mine confided that she had been abducted and raped last week I was brought to my knees in tears seeking God, "Lord, how can you allow this, hasn't she been through enough?"  When I read on Facebook about the 4 year old boy who lost his battle with cancer, I cried out "Why didn't you heal him?"

Like everyone I want to analyze this, that, and everything else.  I want to ask the same question that the disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” John 9:2.  It makes more sense that someone caused the pain through their own fault than a proverbial "just because".  There are so many horrors in this evil world that I cannot wrap my mind around them. It goes beyond understanding and my feeble human mind is left in the condition of utter stupidity.  Even with my faith, I have asked the question, "How can a Loving God allow such pain?" 

However, when we try to analyze why, we are forgetting that even Jesus himself was no stranger to the pain of this world.  Christ said in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you  may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  I want you to go to your bible and in John 16:33 and write your name in after the word heart.  Take heart, Joanne, Take heart Lisa!  Take heart Pam!  Christ has overcome the world.  God desires for us to have a life filled with joy and peace.  God wants us to be content and live abundantly.  He does not want to see his children suffer.  That is why He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us.  John 10:10 says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 

Jesus' reply to His disciples' question was surprising and  for those who do not have an intimate relationship with Christ well, it's beyond comprehension, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."  John 9:3.  Jesus went on to heal the blind man and as a result the man became a believer in Christ. God's glory shown through this man's pain and as a result the man gained natural and spiritual sight.  

We cannot possible understand everything no matter how much we analyze the situation.  God's word tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the LORD."  Isaiah 55:8  What I do know is that God can, does and will bring something beautiful out of your pain if you let Him."   Isaiah 61:3 tells us, "...for those who grieve...a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

For those of you who are suffering right now, please know that if you let Him, God will heal your wounds.  He will bring you beauty for ashes.  He will dry your tears and bring your strength again.  Instead of analyzing it, give it to God.  Whatever "it" may be.  Jesus loves you and He died for you to have life. 

"Dear Heavenly Father, words escape me when I consider all the pain and suffering of this world.  I pray for the starving, unloved, abused.  I pray for parents who have lost children and children who have lost parents.  Wives morning for their husbands and husbands morning for their wives.  I pray for the abandoned and homeless.  I pray for the sick and dying, I pray for those who have suffered the lost of their homes due to natural disasters.  I pray for the world tonight Lord.  Let the peace of God, guard our hearts and minds.  Bring health and healing, bring restoration, bring salvation, but most of all dear Father let your good and perfect will be done and may glory be brought to you in all situations.  And dear Father for my sisters who suffer with me let them stop analyzing this that and everything else and start just trusting.  In Jesus' precious name I pray." AMEN


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