pain

I have heard it said far too often from well intentioned Christians, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” I think this is a load of crap. Sorry for my language. It makes me angry because as I sit with students this week who are hurting beyond imagination this kind of stuff hurts them and leads to confusion. I want to scream and lets just all agree to stop saying these things to students because they are not true and certainly aren’t biblical.

First, does God cause these bad things to happen so we can deal with them? Nope! Not even close. The statement above assumes God causes bad things to happen to us. This is certainly wrong in terms of God’s character. God is good and God is love. He does not cause his people harm. The bad is this world happens because of sin. Sin has totally corrupted our world. Sin causes death. Sin causes brokenness. Our sin, original sin and Satan are the cause of evil in this world. Jesus has been working since the beginning of the fall to save his people from this sin and brokenness. Jesus came so we could be whole again. Through is death and resurrection we get a glimpse of this redemption today.

Second, and probably most troubling about this comment is it assumes we can handle anything with our own strength. It assumes inside of us is this superhuman power to deal with great tragedy, loss, and brokenness. This is a load of bunk. This past week walking with students has brought to the conclusion, sometimes we are hit with such tragedy, such pain, such brokenness that we cannot hope to get through it on our own. You see for me when I am faced with the unimaginable pain of loss, and brokenness, I am brought to my knees. This week of seeing students hurt, seeing students see this broken sin filled world brought me so low I was in tears. I am brought to a point where I am not sure I can even look up to God. Yet I am reminded of His promises to me to never leave me or forsake me. I am reminded that although in this world I will see trouble I can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. I can put my hope and trust in Jesus because in him I know tomorrow will come. One day I will be able to stand again. When I look to that cross and see my redemption I can watch as he wipes away all my tears. For their will be a day when we will have be no more pain, no more brokenness, and all will be well.

If today you are broken and don’t think you can stand anymore, and are not sure you can handle everything that is going on in your life. You can join me on my knees this week as we look to Jesus the only one who can rescue us. My prayer is you see Jesus and let Him pick you up.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev 21:3-5

Recently I have tried to be more healthy. I also bought a fitbit about a year ago and have really been trying to walk my 10,000 steps each day. I know it isn’t going to change my life, and all the sudden I will be super buff guy. I do sit a lot and I thought walking would be better for me.

I also decided this year I was going to read more. I am not good at sitting at my desk and staying off the computer so I thought why not kill two birds with one stone. So I started walking around the building and reading at the same time. I have gotten plenty of looks and even a laugh by the principal of the school who thought one day he might just put something in front of me to see if I noticed it. We both laughed because we both think that is funny and we are mean people.

So today it happened. I was walking and reading my daily Bible reading and ran straight into a table in the narthex. I hit it hard. I have a few bruises from the ordeal. The table won. I lost and well I was a little embarrassed that I didn’t see it coming. So why bring this semi embarrassing story to this blog. While I was thinking as I was sitting on the floor quite embarrassed and in some pain, that my walk with Jesus is very similar. You see God tells me he speaks through his word. He also tells me to walk this faith each day. In a sense we are all walking blindly or at least semi blind. Sometimes as we walk, and sometime we run right into the things that cause us pain. We should see it coming. Often we do not. Jesus never promised we wouldn’t experience pain or trouble. When we walk with Jesus we probably will. In that walk we get stronger when we are in his word. We hear from Jesus his words of life. We are reminded of His walk to the cross for us. His work to make us new and better. The journey will have aches and pain yet in the walk we have Jesus we are able to get up again. Tomorrow I may hit the same table, or I may miss it. But I know I will have Jesus on the journey. I will have Jesus with me even when I don’t always see the trouble coming.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you don now see him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV

youthguysteve

Trying to be a faithful disciple

God doesn’t give us more than we can handle…what a load of crap!

Walking, reading my Bible and a table…the pain on the journey.