Tonight Stacy and I have been reflecting a lot on the last 6 months, as well as on life and death.\u00a0 My grandfather is not doing well and will probably not make it through the night.\u00a0 This coupled with Greyson’s situation has given us a lot of time to think, talk, and reflect on things.\u00a0 Tonight we were talking about how difficult it can be to offer words of encouragment to people who are facing lifes challenges.\u00a0 We are thankful to all of you who work so hard to encourage us.\u00a0 So where is God when there is pain, suffering, and death?\u00a0 It is funny\u00a0how we often try so hard to minimize the situation, or to offer up a reason for what people are experiencing.\u00a0 If we’ve learned anything from these last few months it is that there often is no explanation, or a way to minimize the pain, anxiety, or struggle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While that sounds depressing, the fact remains that there is a lot of truth to it.\u00a0 Now having said that, we also have to say that there is more to the story than that.\u00a0 For whatever reason God doesn’t always provide easy answers.\u00a0 He doesn’t always make the situation better.\u00a0 Yet if you trust him, really trust him, he will always be there.\u00a0 As you cry out to him with your questions, pain, anger, he will begin to speak to you about his profound love for you.\u00a0 I’m often suprised that in these conversations he does not always (or even often?) provide any answers.\u00a0 He simply lets you know that he is there, that he loves you, and that he is hurting right along with you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is true that he is powerful enough to work an instant miracle and dramatically change any situation.\u00a0 Part of trusting him is knowing that he has a reason for not doing so in every situation.\u00a0 He is God and I am not.\u00a0 So we can cry out to him, and accept that whatever the outcome, he is still a loving God who is worthy of our trust.\u00a0 Our prayer tonight is that everyone who reads this can experience the awesome wonder of knowing this kind of love.\u00a0 It gives you untold strength when you have none left, gives you hope when the world looks dark, and even makes you laugh in the midst of it all.<\/p>\n
Sorry to get long winded, but hey, I am a pastor!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tonight Stacy and I have been reflecting a lot on the last 6 months, as well as on life and death.\u00a0 My grandfather is not doing well and will probably not make it through the night.\u00a0 This coupled with Greyson’s … Read More