I know this is my second post for the morning (and it is only 7:20), but I ventured over to the Internet Cafe and wanted to participate.
The author of the post, Kim, shared this quote from David Jeremiah’s book, “Captured by Grace.” He shares the story of a female missionary who was brutally raped by soldiers after many years of faithful service to the Lord. Here is the quote Kim shared with us:
“There was no bitterness within her, though Helen had experienced terrible, mindless evil. It would have been so easy to demand of God why He allowed these atrocities, when she had been so faithful to His service. But in her heart of hearts, she felt that God’s question would be, “Can you thank Me for trusting you with this experience, even if I never tell you why?”
Kim said, “That question stopped me in my tracks, and for today’s Chat I would like to hear your thoughts about this question…Of course this is the question that Helen felt like God was asking her, but I think it is a good question for all of us to ponder.“
I can say that I was shocked to learn that my Daddy had cancer (around 10 years ago). I was serving God faithfully (sounds so stupid to say this now) and was really in the spiritual trenches (so I thought). When I heard the news, I was stunned! I cried out to God, “But I cover my father in prayer every day!” My mind couldn’t wrap around HOW this could have happened since I knew my prayers weren’t in vain. It was a humbling realization when I heard myself. I repented for my reaction because I wasn’t serving God as an “insurance policy” … He never says bad things won’t happen. As a matter of fact, the word says that trials WILL come. I posted a blog about that last Sunday. Later, my Mom suffered a massive stroke, my sister became very ill with Crohn’s disease, my brother and his wife lost a much loved infant daughter … but I didn’t question. I pray for them still, I cry and hurt for them … but I don’t question.
In my own life, I went through many years of wanting to be a Mommy. It took a long time to walk through healing in other areas of my life to realize I wasn’t being rejected by the Lord in this area. But to wrap all of this up — God is good. We live in a fallen world, but our God is GOOD and He loves us. I can only pray that no matter what, my heart would always know this truth and I could trust Him in all things.
Beth, this is so beautiful. I have, after many years, stopped asking why and have more trust…but that’s not to say that the next trauma won’t have me on my knees again. Thanks for sharing this, friend. I really needed it today!
This was a hard question! Thanks for sharing your heart.
Kim here, thanks so much for joining in the discussion this week, and sharing your personal experiences with us. So wonderful that you learned such a hard, deep lesson so young, but I am sure that learning that lesson has helped you in your daily walk with Christ.
Blessings, and please come back to participate again.
Beth, thank you for sharing your heart, precious friend.
I loved “I wasn’t serving God as an insurance policy.”
This was a “tough” chat today, wasn’t it?
Blessings, dear Sister!
Wow Beth…that was beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Beautifully written, Beth. I will be passing along your blog to my sister. She would love to read this this morning. 🙂
That’s a powerful question…when I read it, it almost took my breath away.
As I’ve mentioned before, the past several years have been difficult/challenging for our family. I’ve been thinking back to those times and don’t believe I’ve ever asked WHY it happened. What I tend to do is ask what I did wrong…Did I “miss God”? Did I misinterpret what He was trying to tell me? Was I not tuned in to Him deeply enough? Are these consequences a direct result of my lack?
I do have a tendency to place guilt upon myself when our family goes through painful times, especially where our boys are concerned…and I know that guilt is NOT from God! It’s a challenge for me not to play the blame game with myself.
This great post of yours will be on my mind all day.
Thanks, Beth, and God bless you…
Wow…what a hard question to be asked!
I remember nearly 20 years ago when my daddy was diagnosised with cancer on my oldest son’s 3rd birthday (April 13th)…I was devastated! I began to pray harder and harder…believing more and more in divine healing.
Yet, less than 4 months later…my daddy died…the foundation of my world was rocked. I did question God, cried out in pain and anger. It took me many years to understand just what you said…we don’t serve God as an insurance policy and the enemy brings those thoughts back to me to this day. I have to cast them down and stomp on them.
After many, many years…I began to believe God again for divine healing in others…understanding that not all healings happen on this earth but some happen the moment that He takes our loved ones home to be with Him.
After all the storms in my life…I am still learning to praise Him in the storm, trust Him with my whole heart and lean not unto my own understanding.
I love this post and it has stirred up many thoughts and emotions within me today. I might post this on my site today with my reply here.
Thank you, my sweet, sweet sister!
Have a blessed weekend…off to see my grandson play basketball 🙂
Beautiful post my dear friend. I too have asked “why”… each time the Lord says…”trust me”…. It is an ever learning process… Thank you for sharing this today. Love you my friend.
Thanks for sharing such a lovely post sweetie.
Wow i have not been to the internet cafe yet today but i am simply blown away by this.
Your so funny!! And I love this post!!
What a great post. There are so many things that we have to take on faith. We live in a fallen world and death and disease are part of that.
We just have to take Him at His word and trust Him, because He is so worthy!
Thanks for sharing this to us, Beth. I am greatly blessed. 🙂
You make a good point here. You know what? Sometimes I think people on the outside of knowing the Lord look at those with strong faith as a crutch. We are seen as weak. Truth is people who trust him over and over in hard times and in good times, rest assured that no matter what comes he will be there. This is something we must all come to terms with in our walk. You are being very open here. Bless you my sister.
For the non-believer, it may look like we are wasting our time, but for the believer, the truth is there is no better place to be than in the arms of our Lord who promised he will never leave us. It’s a perception thing isn’t it? We don’t know what we know until we know it, and then it is very difficult to un-know it;)
great post! This is my first time visiting your lovely blog.
Sweet Beth, this is message is full of your love for God and you are so right that OUR GOD IS GOOD!!
Precious sister Beth,
Yes, truly dear sister, it is so difficult to live out Ephesians 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
And what you said is so true, we do not serve God as an insurance policy that we’ll never suffer heartache or that every prayer we lift up will be answered with a “yes”. But we serve God b/c we love Him and are grateful that He saved us, while we were yet sinners.
What a beautiful post! Thank you for sharing sister! May the Lord our God richly bless you! ♥
Much love sweet sister,
Sunny
What an awesome post Beth. Thank you so much for sharing your heart.
Blessings,
Vickie
Thank you beth for this post. I have struggled with the idea that God allows bad stuff to happen .I guess we are not owed an explanation. Sometimes that is hard to swallow. I guess that where faith comes in!
Wow!! How powerful!
And I’m like you about the insurance policy!! Thinking that if I’m serving God, that all will be well..
Thank you for sharing this!
Blessings!
~Beth