Everything Happens For A Reason

Really? When a little girl is hit by a car and dies, there's a "reason" for this? Or when cancer strikes, there's a "reason". Or when, my washing machine dies, or my tire goes flat, there is some reason?

See, I've known those O words about God since I was a young girl. Between Sunday School and Christian elementary school, I knew that God was omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. Everywhere (always present), All-powerful, and all-knowing. Somehow, we associate the all-knowing part of God with something that I think is wrong.

People usually say "everything happens for a reason" and follow it up with "God knew this was going to happen" to try to comfort people in hard times. They usually imply by the way they say it and the timing of such phrase that it is God's will for such a thing to happen and then throw in the verse about how God can use anything for good.

In my (at this time, not very humble at all) opinion, Christians needs to stop pretending that bad things happening are God's plan. Sometimes, cruddy things happen because in order to experience in the intimacy of communion with the creator of the earth, He had to give us a free will. We live in a world that has suffering and pain because we are imperfect people. Sure, God knows every single one of my days before I live them.

Sometimes, I believe God allows us to experience trials for our benefits, however, sometimes, I think we go through things simply because we live in a world with other humans. People seem to sit around unwilling to to do anything about the wrong going on simply because "God has a plan".

I realize I'm going to be okay. My family is going to be okay. My kids are going to be okay. Yet, if we become callused to hurting and the needs and lives of others, we are missing the point of being the hands and feet of Jesus. Next time you start to utter those words to someone, stop and think about them. Remember, sometimes life isn't fair. While God always has a plan and purpose for our lives, we live in a world full of free wills and we are affected by the cause and affect relationships of everyone around us. Our families, the drunk driver on the road, our bosses, ourselves, the substances we put in our bodies..... sometimes those words aren't going to do anything but cause the hurt to hurt more.

What does faith mean for me?

As we embarked on our journey to this phase of the unknown, people were constantly telling us, "God has something better". "You're going to move onto something greater". I don't know if that was them trying to reassure themselves, after the decision was made or if it was just the standard Christian response to someone going through a hardship.

So, I've been reading my Bible and some other books for food and encouragement and I picked back up "A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God" by Larry Osborne.

The more I explored the biblical accounts and the less I listened to the motivational talks, the more I became convinced that the kind of faith God wanted from me was quite different from the kind I was constantly being exhorted to have.

Osborne goes on to suggest that faith is less about claiming away doubt but rather a heart of obedience despite the circumstances. I'm more inclined to agree with Osborne.

He says:

The Greek word translated as faith in our Bibles has nothing to do with a powerful imagination, eradicating doubt, or any other form of mind of matter. It has nothing to do with feelings or mental imagery. It has to do with obedience.

I'm thinking, if I can believe God and take His word for just that, HIS word, and obey Him, no matter what my circumstances look like, I'm demonstrating faith. It might not be about not having doubts or concerns throughout my obedience.

Larry gave a great example in his book. Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? They were commanded like the rest of the nation to bow to the golden image. However, they did not want to go against their beliefs and so they did not bow, even with the threat of being thrown into a fire.

Here's what they said to the king,

O, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we're thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O King.

Wow. We often times in that story see faith in the boldness of standing up to the king and letting him know about their God and how He could save them. (And we all know He could)

Their faith at its greatest, however, may have come from them recognizing that He may not deliver them and yet they were determined to walk in obedience still. Perhaps that is faith really defined. Following God even if the pay off, isn't in the right here and now.

But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

I wonder, can I stop and listen long enough for God's voice so that I -can- obey, demonstrate my faith and trust in Him.

Osborne says:

The important lesson in this story is not the Sunday school take-home that if we trust God enough and do the right thing, He'll get us out of every fiery jam. While it's certainly true that God honors our faith and obedience with miraculous deliverance, most often His reward comes much later - in a place and time called eternity.

The important lesson is that God is pleased with obedience even when we expect the worst.

I'm going to try to meditate on this topic of faith some more and keep asking God what He wants of me so that I can obey. Jesus' statement about the mustard seed... was He saying we needed more with His illustration or was He trying to say that we can do great things with whatever amount we have, through obedience?

-eds inspired by Susie.

Over the last week I:

Filled: out a form for Ekaterina's school

Checked: my email, lots of times

Figured: out how to make peanut butter pancakes

Visited: with my sister over dinner tonight

Moved: the old runner rug to the garbage and put the new one out

Transferred: a pile of mail from the mailbox to the counter. haha!

Enjoyed: hanging out with Zachariah, just the 2 of us

Gathered: clothes for Tavian's first non-related sleepover

Laughed: at Tavian's silly faces

Played: Webkinz to earn Tavian's pet Octo some Kinzcash

Discovered: that I need to get back to exercising and soon!

Wowed: by Ekaterina's talents and abilities. She's so smart and bright.

Teared: up at just about anything this week.

Pondered: what God could be trying to teach me through this icky time right now.