Another thing I hear people say a lot is that they are thankful for the deep dark pit of despair they were plunged into because it brought them closer to God. While I'm sure these people are good-intentioned, we ought not be thankful for something the devil did in our life or for something that was brought about by personal sin or the sin of others. Sure, we can be thankful that we turned to God in our dark hour, but I'm more than positive that we can turn to God at any time and needn't wait for a terrible tragedy before we surrender our life to the Lord. In fact, I would be so bold as to say that God prefers that we turn to Him immediately (and eternally), regardless of whether "right now" is one of life's good times or bad times.
Along these lines, many well-meaning Christians talk about how grateful they are for the pain they suffered since "their trials made them stronger." If experiencing trials was the only requirement for growing stronger, there'd be a whole lot more people in this world with great strength. Instead, there are people everywhere going through bad things and not getting any stronger, but rather getting weaker and becoming quite defeated by the trial they're facing. Let's be real: if bad times made people turn to God, a vast majority of this world would have turned to God by now.
If being sick in body or experiencing tragic loss or facing horrible despair is the way to grow stronger and closer to God, then Jesus must have been a very weak and backslidden man. Jesus wasn't sick. He didn't endure tragic loss. He didn't face horrible despair. Jesus went about doing good and healing...doing good and healing...doing good and healing...these are the things Jesus did. And when Jesus did these things, what happened? People grew strong and gave their life to God.
Sure, you can turn to God when life stinks. I hope you do turn to God during those times, because He's the only one who can turn your life around. But God isn't some sadistic cosmic manipulator who makes your life miserable in order to force you to come to Him. He woos you. He calls you. He draws you. His goodness to us is what leads us to repent.
Along these lines, many well-meaning Christians talk about how grateful they are for the pain they suffered since "their trials made them stronger." If experiencing trials was the only requirement for growing stronger, there'd be a whole lot more people in this world with great strength. Instead, there are people everywhere going through bad things and not getting any stronger, but rather getting weaker and becoming quite defeated by the trial they're facing. Let's be real: if bad times made people turn to God, a vast majority of this world would have turned to God by now.
If being sick in body or experiencing tragic loss or facing horrible despair is the way to grow stronger and closer to God, then Jesus must have been a very weak and backslidden man. Jesus wasn't sick. He didn't endure tragic loss. He didn't face horrible despair. Jesus went about doing good and healing...doing good and healing...doing good and healing...these are the things Jesus did. And when Jesus did these things, what happened? People grew strong and gave their life to God.
Sure, you can turn to God when life stinks. I hope you do turn to God during those times, because He's the only one who can turn your life around. But God isn't some sadistic cosmic manipulator who makes your life miserable in order to force you to come to Him. He woos you. He calls you. He draws you. His goodness to us is what leads us to repent.
1 comment:
I wholeheartedly agree with your observations in this post.
We are instructed to thank God "in" everything. as we thank Him during our troubles not "FOR" the trials & tribulations (since He is not the author of our these)it helps US to see things more clearly for the way out. As we stay in an attitude of praise- we are better able to hear God as He speaks to us the answers for victory OVER and THROUGH the situations this life brings us.
We WILL have trials and tribulations, but the Lord has delivered us out of them all. He doesn't BRING them AND deliver us. God is not confused... if anyone is...we ARE.
The statement you made here is something I say all the time and it just seems so common sense:
"If experiencing trials was the only requirement for growing stronger, there'd be a whole lot more people in this world with great strength. Instead, there are people everywhere going through bad things and not getting any stronger, but rather getting weaker and becoming quite defeated by the trial they're facing. Let's be real: if bad times made people turn to God, a vast majority of this world would have turned to God by now."
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