I had to tell my children what had happened and
explain that God has a purpose. I had to tell my daughter (Hope) that she can
go to public school on Monday, that things will be okay, that God has a plan
for her life, and we need to trust in Him even in scary times. Her elementary school has
already had a bomb threat this year. I hear things like this along with shootings in malls and schools and and I can understand
why some parents get anxious. We just prayed together as a family and received
His comfort. I hope these families can do the same.
I know
without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord is good and just and in control, even
in times of high stress, illness, and senseless killings. If God allows Satan
access for sin, there is a higher purpose for it. God does not make mistakes
and He knows what he is doing even if we wonder in amazement how things can be
so horrible and evil. Satan is very real
and He causes many pleasures and pains, but Satan is not ultimate. When Satan
struck down Job with many things, his friends blamed God and suggested that he
curse God for what He had allowed.
Job 42:11 - Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him
before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled
him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him.
And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.
Job 2:10 - But he
said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed
accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not
sin with his lips.
I hope and pray that if you are
facing things and you are hurt by others, negative circumstances, suffering through
illness, especially cancer that you will not blame God, as Job’s friends and
wife wanted him to do. I have blamed God in the past and looking back, I know it
was because I was just ignorant of the truth of God and His words. These
terrible things were and are meant for my good and are His way of refining us. Proverbs 17:3 – “The refining pot is for
silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.”
I am so thankful now for God allowing
me to go through the things I have, even today and this last few weeks as I have
had many difficult circumstances and situations. God is so good and he allows
it all for His greater purpose. Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.” And Psalms 84:11 – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the
LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose
walk is blameless.”
The aim of God in these difficult circumstances
and trials is to knock us down so that we can depend on Him and not rely on ourselves,
man, or even the things that you have for comfort such as money or family. He
wants us to turn and depend on Him and delight in Him.
We all have to face sadness and even
death. Ecclesiastes 7:2 – “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go
to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living
should take this to heart.” We are to face death and number our days - Psalms
90:12 – “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom.” I hope and pray that we can all realize the gift of life today and
hold the truth (God’s word) close to our hearts along with those we know and
love.
Life is precious and too important for
trivial arguments and lack of forgiveness. Life is too short for our own selfish
pleasures to take over instead of working hard for others and for the glory of
the Lord. Life is too wonderful even in trials to miss God’s hands and the
reflection of who He is through the wonders He has made. Stop and look around
today. Spend some time looking at the miracles of life and the world He created
and that we are privileged to live in and you will see God’s mighty hand at work. I
promise you will. Colossians 1:16 – “For by him all things were created: things
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or
rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”
I hope that we can overlook sin and
the terrible things such as this and other recent senseless killings. I hope
and pray we can look deeper to the fact that people killed were blessings from the
Lord to begin with. He knit them in their mother's wombs and they all had a rerason and purpose in life. They were blessings to many for the years they were alive., even if only 5 years old.
I hope and pray that we cry out
to God in our suffering and seek Him, His comfort, and the peace that passes
understanding in and through our pain. I hope we can remember it is the Lord that
gives and takes away life. I believe that those that trusted in the Lord and
the children are with Him now. I pray we focus on that and His provision and
love for us today and every day. God is so good.
Job 1:20 - At this, Job
got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in
worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised
10,000 Resasons - by Matt Redman
Have a blessed day
in the Lord,
Karri
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