A friend of mine recommended that I get the book "How to be Your Best when you Feel Your Worst" by Pastor Casey Treat, saying that it would really speak to me. I have read about 1.5 chapters and here are little excerpts and paraphrases from the book;
"There are times and seasons in every person's life that are challenging and difficult...We all experience "stuff." "Stuff happens"...
The devil is relentless and bad things to happen to good people, "Just about the time you get your bills paid, you have a teenager who goes crazy on you. Just about the same time your family is flowing together and everyone is doing pretty well, you get fired from your job. Just about the time you get your company going or you get your job where you want it to be, someone gets into a car accident...It's one thing after another! We tend to ask God questions such as, "Why did You let this happen? What are You trying to say? Why me, God?"
The problem with such questions is that we "actually blaming God, accusing Him of evil! But God is for us, not against us";
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom 8:31-32
Key Principle: God is not in control
God is all powerful, King over all the earth, yet God did not cause a tsunami to kill 250,000 guitless people, the massive spread of the AIDS virus. We are tempted every day yet God has no part to play in temptation!
"God certainly use everything that happens, but He doesn't necessarily cause it." Therefore all of us has dangerous mindfields to walk through in this lifetime to become better people!
Whether it is because of our own fault or circumstantial; when problems arise, "God uses everything at His disposal, both the good and the bad, to help us and to encourage us and to cause us to grow...God loves us so much, He can use even those negatives things for our ultimate good, "And we know that in all things God works for the good to those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" - Romans 8:28 NIV
I'm glad I got this book, and if the first chapter and a half is this good, I can't wait to finish this book up!
I guess in retrospect, when we're young, bad things consume and cripple us. We need faith to overcome and rise up again. It is when we're more mature and have responsibilities on our shoulders that despite having crippling bad things happen, we still have to stand strong and do what we have to do. That takes immense FAITH! Things don't happen in isolation anymore; we can have breakthroughs in one area of our lives, yet a nagging pain in another.
I never could understand phrases such as the "violence of life", "ravages of spirits", "silent screams", until recently. Its like how most of the Psalms by David were written when he was alone in his cave, alone under the quiet star-light of the sky...we make the most amazing decisions and feel the most tumultuous when we're alone on our beds, staring in the ceiling, rocking ourselves to sleep...wondering of the possibilities..pondering...
Faith. Above all, God is with us, always for us; everything we need on this earth has already been given to us on the cross. What more can we ask? It is us that needs to be moulded. Do we, lying on our beds in turmoil, decide to hide and run in our hearts, or do we cry out to God even if we don't hear Him? I like David...
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. - Habakkuk 3:17-19
An ode to my friends...you understand...
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