In times of suffering, some of us can relate
to King David’s emotions (or some variation of them) as expressed in Psalms
13:1:
“Long enough,
God -
you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.”
you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.”
From experience, I know that serious illness
(as a subset of the above) swiftly communicates to the one experiencing the
sickness just who holds the ultimate control over the eventual outcome of their
health issue (Deuteronomy 30:15).
In a peculiar way the death (of a loved one)
often confirms the preciousness of life. Loss can help the living to better
appreciate each other, marry patience and love together, and realize what’s really
important (and what is rubbish).
Biblical scholar, A.W. Tolzer, is credited
for this insightful comment, “What comes into our minds when we think about God
is the most important thing about us.”
Do you view God as a loving Heavenly Father,
a strict Authoritarian (waiting punish you when goof up), or somewhere in the
middle of these two points?
Your Creator (and Savior) is aware of your
imperfections. He is the only One who can give you the help to turn them into
blessings (Isaiah 43:11). You can trust God when you understand His character.
When others see divine change in you, God’s love will become irresistible. It
may make them aware of how badly they want the joy that is so evident in you (I
John 4:8).
With His character qualities of wisdom, authority,
holiness, faithfulness, mercy, goodness, graciousness, love, eternality,
sameness, omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), and
omnipresent (everywhere); you can be assured that God has all the tools needed
to turn your weak efforts (for good) into something truly spectacular.
Prayer, Bible study, self-help books, and
fellowshipping with others (via church) can aid in reaching this goal. Ultimately,
how well do you know your Heavenly Father? Are you casual acquaintances or the
best of friends?
A worldview is the framework in which someone
views the reality of their world. Where does the Almighty fit into this
equation for you? Is He an extra or a major performer in the drama of your
life?
The more time you spend personally
communicating with someone; it’s logical that you’ll get to know them better.
The same holds true in a relationship with God. In any endeavor, you get out of
it what you put into it. Where do you stand?
*Inspired from the sermon “We Believe: One
True God,” by Rev. Matthew Morgan, MA, LPC, February 28, 2016, Eastside
Community Church, Gahanna, OH
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