We love to say that. We love to try and believe that. We want that thought to ease the pain of tough times. We want it to help when we can’t understand a great loss. We hope it will soothe us when things are not going the way we wanted. We really, really want to believe that. But, do we believe it? And if we say we believe that, on what do we base that belief?
In the book of Job, we see Job going through extremely hard times. We read how his friends tried to help him make sense of it all in several ways. At the beginning, his friends came and sat with him in his misery, saying nothing and yet helping bear his pain, giving comfort by their presence. That was very helpful. When they spoke, they were searching for answers to help not only Job, but themselves, to try and understand the calamites that had occurred. They blamed the bad times on Job for his own sin. They told him it may very well have been the sins of one or another of his children. They simply overstated the fact that God judges righteously and that Job obviously was deserving of this judgement of bad times. They surely wanted a good answer so they could hopefully avoid such things in their lives! In their desire to help their friend, they offered some advice that was neither true nor helpful. And Job resisted. Seriously, who wouldn’t?
When we look for answers and then choose to believe the things we see or hear, we probably want assurance that the things we believe are true and helpful. I am reading Don Quixote right now. It is humorous, and also sad, that the things he sees and believes are not always true or helpful! At how many windmills have I swung my knightly sword to find that they were not my foes at all? When am I giving in to my own “madness” to find answers to my problems? When things get very hard and I get confused, which happens sometimes, I tend to borrow my dear son’s frontal lobes for a few minutes until my thinking comes in line with the reality of the situation. I definitely appreciate his stability and his wisdom! For my beliefs about God and the nature of difficulties in my life, I go to the source where I can find His own words: The Bible. People have told me many things about who He might be, could be, or how He possibly acts in a person’s life. And sometimes their words are true and helpful. Still, to be sure of what I believe I check it out. When it comes down to it, what matters is not how strongly I believe something. It matters that the thing I believe is true and will hold up. God finally shows up in Job’s situation, and the conversations with his friends. God speaks and things become clear. Job, himself, said in Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You”.
Maybe your beliefs are working in your life and you are doing well. That is a good thing! But if you are struggling with things, and what you believe is not ringing true nor helping you, maybe you need to keep looking. And listening to the words of God. It may be “old fashioned” and not in line with the 21st century, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He still calls people to come to Him. He is still calling you. Even you.
Blessings, Sue
I enjoyed your posting. How true. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
The first place we should look is the Bible! It may seem old fashioned to some but you are right when you remind us that God has not changed, it is our culture that has changed. God is still on his throne, he is still in control, and he is always calling to us to believe in him, our creator and friend. When we believe and give our lives to God through Jesus Christ we get to experience the God of creation living in us and helping us through all of life’s challenges. When God walks with us life begins to make more sense and we experience peace. Thank you, Sue for sharing your thoughts and life with us!