"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8 NIV
"...we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God, is worked into something good." Romans 8: 28 MSG
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This song has been playing in my car and on my mind this week. As has the question of why bad things happen to good people. It's been argued over and questioned and no one can really give a satisfactory answer, although many have tried. When I wonder why some people suffer through childhood sexual abuse and it's lifelong impact, or why there are starving children around the world, I guess it's pretty hard to answer that in a few lines or a few books, even.
I do firmly believe that God does not "send" or "give" these, and many other bad things to us. And I fully believe that there is evil lurking in this world, and that some people make terrible decisions with horrible consequences. Yet why doesn't He save us from these things? Especially when we love and follow Him, and cry out in desperate prayer to Him?
Isaiah 55:8 was my answer. Even though it's not totally satisfactory to my curious, demanding monkey of a mind. God gently reminds me that He is in control...and that I cannot think or act in ways that He would. Being all-knowing and all-powerful, I have to trust that He knows what He's doing. Maybe when I see the view from Heaven, I will understand.
Romans 8:28 is also another piece to this puzzle, I think. Somehow, the Spirit works in the most terrible of situations to bring some good out of it, especially to those who believe in Him. I have seen this time and again in my own life, and the life of others. I could identify in the song, with the healing from tears, and the thousand sleepness nights leading to knowing God was with me. Would I go back to erase those tears I cried? I hate to cry, especially in public. No, I would not rewrite these times, because I know they were a large part of my healing journey. Would I prefer to have slept soundly, instead of lying awake worried and sad and fearful many nights? Well in some respects yes! but I also know that I felt closest to God when I needed Him most.
I pray that the hurts and fears you have experienced become blessings and mercies in disguise.
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