disappointment

God is Good All the Time

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I remember when I was around twelve years old, my mom told me that I was old enough to start having daily devotions. So I went into my dad’s office to look for a devotional book. I remember the one I selected. It talked about the Trinity. And that’s how I became more familiar with the roles of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After that, I started making a habit of reading my Bible every day.

Through the years, I would use select devotional books and other devotional guides. But for the past five years, I have read the Bible through each year. For a couple of years, I read through the Bible Recap. Then for the next two years, I read through two different chronological Bibles. For the past year, I followed a chronological guide on the Bible reading app.

I decided that for this year I needed to try a different approach to my devotions. I love reading through the Bible chronologically each year, but I wanted to slow the pace and focus on fewer passages of Scripture. I’m doing a study called Christ in all of Scripture. I’ve only finished three weeks of the study, but it definitely slows me down to read the same select Scripture all week long.

The study this week focused on the first chapter of Genesis. Since I’ve read the story of creation multiple times, I knew what to expect. It tells how God created the earth and everything on it in six days. And at the end of each day, he looked at what he created and saw that it was good. He liked what he had created. It was all still in its purest form, like a newborn babe. Then he made man to rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the wild animals of the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. At the end of the sixth day, he looked at the man of his creation and saw that it was very good. Man wasn’t just good. He was very good.

It got me to thinking that since God saw that all of his creation was good, it’s a reminder that He too is good all the time. Even when times of discouragement and dread overtake us, God is still good. Our circumstances don’t dictate the goodness of God. Our situations can change unexpectedly, but that doesn’t mean that God changes. He is always consistent and his ways are higher than our ways. For this I am thankful. He is the author of life, and he dictates when it begins and ends.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8

Can we still praise God when our world has turned upside down? We might ask what’s there to give praise for when our whole world has collapsed. It’s easy to say that God is good all the time when times are good. But when times of trouble come our way, why do we suddenly question him? Why does doubt suddenly creep in? Has God changed? No. Our circumstances have. And yes. God is the author of life. He’s the giver and taker of life. He knows everything about us and what’s ahead before we do. He knows when we fail him and when we doubt him. His love for us never changes. Regardless of what we’re facing, God is with us.

We may think that God is not present in our lives when trouble comes our way. But does the sun fail to exist when it’s covered by clouds? Just because the sun isn’t shining doesn’t means there’s no sun. Does the moon die every day when daylight hits the skies? No. And God still exists and sees us even when he’s silent in the middle of our need.

When we’re going through a difficulty, it might be time to ask what we can learn from the situation instead of how to get out of it. Instead of focusing on ourselves and what we want, we need to shift our mindset to making sure we’re pleasing God with our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The situation may not change. Even if it does, it may not be in our complete favor. But God is still good, and he’s still in control. He surrounds us with his presence. He is our hiding place. Let’s run to him instead of to something else that numbs our heart and mind.

God goes before us and he walks behind us. He hovers over us and encircles us with his presence. God is our ever present help in times of trouble.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Deuteronomy 32:10

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7

Thank you for your faithfulness, Father. In the middle of trouble. In the storm of uncertainty. Lord, you’re the one thing we count on. Every day your faithfulness carries us through. ~Brian Doerksen

Our Hope is in Christ

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

As I write this, it’s in the morning hours of election day. I’ve voted and returned home. I must say that voting in a small town is much different from big city polling places. I actually voted on a paper ballot, and there were only five voting stations. Plus, there was no wait. It’s not what I’ve been used to for the past forty years, but it works.

Since it’s way too early at this point to know any results, I’ll settle in and wait for the numbers to start rolling in later this evening. I’m sure many will be stewing all day and probably most of the night to learn the results of this nation-defining election. People are on pins and needles wondering how our nation will survive if their candidate doesn’t make it to the needed number of electoral votes. Regardless of who wins, one side will breathe a huge sigh of relief and the other side will be in a stew for four years. Just as happened four years ago, many applauded and many were heartsick. So goes elections.

For those whose candidate is named the loser, they will be troubled and disheartened. For those whose candidate is named the winner, there will be a deep sigh of relief and a stirring of hope. Since this election has been so volatile with both candidates belittling the other, how can we rest easy with whoever is named our next president? We most likely will have four years of finger pointing, investigations, and unrest.

And if the House and Senate majority is not the same political party as the President, there will be trouble brewing and spilling over until the next vote in two years. There will be many promises and threats to impede progress. There will be chaos in the nation’s capital. And we the people will be the ones who suffer the most.

We tell ourselves that we aren’t cut out for trials and tribulations. We want to be coddled and given soft assignments in life. We don’t want trouble and we don’t want to have to speak hard truths to those who need to hear it. We don’t want to be persecuted for our faith or for our voting history. We want to be left to our own devices and just get on with life. We want easy and comfortable. We’ll leave the suffering at the merciless hands of the opposition to the future generations. They can be the ones to suffer tribulation types of trials. We can’t be the generation to suffer. We’ve grown up in an America that was the pot at the end of the rainbow. And we want to keep it that way. We don’t want trouble. We’re not made for that stuff. That’s what we tell ourselves.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Now the election results are public knowledge. And the new reality is setting in. Many are distraught and angry. Many have cried many tears and pointed the finger of blame at others. Many more are relieved and thrilled. They’re pumping their fists in victory and shouting a battle cry for better days ahead. But deep down. This country still needs help. This country needs to wake up and realize that we as a nation have walked away from God. We can’t be saved by a billionaire. He isn’t God. He can’t forgive our sins. He can’t make all things right. Our trust needs to be in God and God alone.

Sure. Let’s continue to pray for our elected leaders. Let’s pray that they appoint godly and trusted advisors who will help right the ship known as the good ole’ US of A. Let’s pray for peace in the areas of the world that have been devastated by war. Let’s pray for the areas of this country that have been devastated by hurricanes and other events. Let’s pray for the economy to right size. Let’s pray for lower inflation and increased jobs. Let’s pray for our men to be godly leaders of their homes. And that women create a nurturing and loving environment at home. Let’s pray that the children in our country can be safe from evil intentions and harmful indoctrination. Let’s pray that America gets back to God.

This may be our last opportunity to set the nation back on the course our founding fathers set for us. Oh. They weren’t perfect men. They were very flawed, just as we are. But they built the country on the foundation of freedom of religion, and let’s fight to keep that freedom. Let’s work to make sure that our speech is free, regardless of our opinions.

Regardless of the candidate we voted for, let’s stand in unity for the country. Let’s stand in unity for our faith and freedom. Let’s hold fast to the truth that every life matters and that the sanctity and dignity of all lives must be honored.

The most important thing to remember is that our hope must be in Christ. He is the giver of peace. He is the Savior of the world. He makes all things right in their due time, not as the world sees things right, but as he knows them to be. And our trust must be in Him, the one who ordains all things and all our days.

When God Ordains Hard Things

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We know that bad things happen to good people. And good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to bad people. And good things happen to good people. All these happenings are fore-ordained. They’re known ahead of time by God Almighty. He allows all things. All circumstances. All the time.

Matthew 5:45 tells us that our Father in heaven gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. This means that everyone on this earth can plan to have some good days and some bad days. There’s no way around it.

What does it mean that God ordains all things? You ask. What does it mean that he ordains our days?

Ordain: To order or decree by virtue of superior authority. To issue an order. To order or command.

He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts of the Apostles 17:24-28

If you’ve read the story of Job, you know that he lived through one very difficult time. According to the Bible, he had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. Read Job 1:2-3. The Bible doesn’t say specifically how long his troubles lasted, but in the course of one day he lost everything. Literally. His donkeys and oxen were stolen and some of his farmhands were killed. Only one escaped to tell the story. All of his sheep and shepherds were burned in a fire. Only one shepherd escaped to share the news. All of his camels were stolen by raiders, who killed the servants. Only one servant escaped to give a report. Then a powerful storm blew down the house where his children were partying, where they and all the servants died. Only one servant survived to give an account to their parents.

And just when Job was wallowing in grief, he was hit with boils all over his body. He was miserable. He wanted to die. He asked God why he had even been allowed to be born. And his wife suggested that he curse God and die. But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 2:10

His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him–though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:27

How do parents respond when they lose a young child? Because we know that it’s not in the course of natural events for a parent to outlive their child. The heartbreak and disappointment can be crushing. The grief and pain of loss is devastating.

These past two years have brought many deaths and disabilities from a new virus. The pain and suffering have been immense. No population on the earth has been left untouched. How are we to process this event? What does normal even look like anymore? Can we adjust to a new normal that is full of roadblocks?

There are Christians in other lands who are hunted, imprisoned, tortured and killed for their faith. They’re living for God, but they’re in the minority in their land. And those hunting them are determined to rid their world of anything godly.

Consider the police officer who accidentally killed someone when she pulled her gun instead of her taser. And then there’s the cop who killed a child when his bullet ricocheted off a wall. These are hard times for these two individuals and their families. And also for the families who lost loved ones. No one is a winner here. The lives of all of these people are changed forever.

Then there are women and girls being trafficked for sex by ungodly people. They’re sold for their bodies to be used against their will. They have no say in the matter. They can’t escape the abuse on their own. They’re held prisoner by unlawful people.

We may wonder why God allows such evil to happen. After all, he is a loving God. Why do bad things happen? We can question God, but he doesn’t always provide the answers we long to hear. We don’t always learn the reason of the whys that we ask. We may never know.

We’ve been given the ability to choose how we live our lives. We can decide to do good or evil. We can chose to treat others with respect or not. We can choose to hurt others and ourselves. We can choose to deny that God exists. We also can choose to walk in step with Him.

If we choose to walk our own path, then our life will reflect those choices and consequences. And we live that life on our own. We live that life without the comfort or strength that only God can give.

If we choose to walk with God, He walks with us through the valleys and mountaintop experiences. He never leaves us. He will give us strength to face each new day, whether that day brings rejoicing or sorrow. Even when days are hard, and there will be hard days, God is with us.

For some, the suffering and struggles may be lifelong. Even if we are Christ followers, we may live hard lives. We aren’t promised an easy, rose colored life.

Oh. We can grovel and complain and moan and groan. We can question God and curse him. We can cry and destroy ourselves. All in the name of suffering. But suppose we stopped and quieted ourselves. Suppose we listened for the still small voice of God. Suppose we reached out to Him at the darkest moments of our lives. And just suppose He brought peace in the midst of suffering. Because it is possible.

Some of the things that you’ve lost in your life, God is not going to bring them back in the exact same way.

Havilah Cunnington

To experience joy in our struggles and difficulties, we must first acknowledge who God is. Everything but God is secondary in our lives. Everything else is secondary. Yes. That’s right. It’s tough to hear, but God must be the priority. Even during times of intense suffering and grief. If we focus on God, we will see that He is supreme. His love is never ending. His compassion knows no boundaries. His mercy is new every morning. His grace is all sufficient. His power is all encompassing. He is the alpha. The omega. The beginning and the end.

So when the thing we have always feared happens to us, we can have peace and quiet and perfect rest in God our Maker and Redeemer.

Disappointment

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I’m disappointed. In people. When they say something or do something. Or they don’t say something or don’t do something. They don’t meet my expectations. And most of the time, I didn’t realize I had those expectations until they aren’t met. People are so disappointing. They can’t read my mind. They don’t know what I want. They don’t know when my feelings get hurt. They don’t know me. And yet they disappoint me.

It hurts when you trust someone and they fail miserably. Their words or acts cross a line that you didn’t know was drawn. But once the line is drawn, it’s obvious that you’re hurt. And now there are feelings to deal with. Emotions are bubbling. Trust is cracked wide open. And now what?

Maybe that person has gone too far. Or not far enough. We thought they liked blue, but instead they love red. We assumed they were a chocolate lover, when all the while they’re craving nachos. We naturally assume that they would always agree with our opinions, when they very much have their own much different opinions. Now the differences are out in the open. What is one to do?

People will disappoint us. They’re human. I’m human. I’m sure I’ve disappointed way too many people. And I’m most likely oblivious to it unless it’s been pointed out to me.

Only God is truly good. Mark 10:18

People. We can’t put our trust and hope in people. We need someone who is more than mere human. We need the One who created humans. We need someone who is bigger and better than us. We need an Almighty God who loves us. Who provides for us. Who leads us in truth. Who says those difficult words to us and performs acts that we don’t understand. But all the while He’s doing it, he knows that in the end it is for our good. He allows things that seem downright unnecessary and awful to impact our comfortable little lives. But he knows that if we just keep our eyes on him, that he is there for us. All the time. Things don’t always have to be pretty or perfect for God to be with us. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t good.

And sometimes those things that God allows disappoint us. Sometimes God disappoints us by not answering that prayer that we knew was just the perfect answer. Or he doesn’t provide that job that would have solved a lot of our problems. Or he doesn’t cure that incurable disease. But that doesn’t mean he’s bad or doesn’t love us. He’s working out everything for our good.

Disappointment is a mean thing. It can eat you alive and turn into bitterness and resentment. It can cause even more disappointment when we can’t find our way out of it.

The thing is. We can’t avoid people. No matter how hard we try, people are everywhere. They’re in public places. They’re at work. They’re at church. They’re in our homes. Oh sure. These past few months, we’ve all been quarantined at home, but people still exist. Through emails and texts. Facetime and Zoom calls. They are still disappointing, even if we’re not together in person.

And we think we can avoid God. But he is still here. He’s all around us. Every day. Oh. We may try to ignore him. We may avoid any type of dealing with him. But guess what. He’s still here. He is always waiting for us to reach out to him. Even in our disappointment. He plans for the best for us. Even when circumstances are so difficult, perhaps our focus needs to shift to God’s goodness despite the tough times. God is always good. Even when life is bad. He is a good, good Father.