I’m not one to watch many cop shows. I’ve just never really liked them, however, since I am married to one – a cop, that is, occasionally out of love for my man, I have taken one in.
I remember one particular movie that we watched. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name or even who played in it (you can see that these really make an impact on me). Yet, the story was about a detective who had investigated a horrendous murder of a child on his last day at work – the day of his retirement.
For months after, he tried to figure out who the killer was by meticulously going over and over the evidence. Eventually, the killer was discovered and the murder solved, all in a two-hour window.
I thought about that movie and likened it to the Christian life. Oftentimes, we are baffled by circumstances or traumatic events that happen in our daily lives. We begin to question God and His goodness, even to the point of blaming Him for the troubles that seem to overtake our otherwise peaceful existence.
Over and over we examine and analyze the facts in our minds trying to decipher the “who dunnit” or “how it happened,” and in the process, begin to lose our faith. We forget who God is, and that nothing happens without a purpose and a reason to better equip us for the journey ahead.
So today, I think it fitting that we “re-examine” the facts about our God; that we take a closer look at who He really is:
1. In Romans 8:28 we read these words, “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.” Everything – the good things and the bad, work to bring a greater good to us (those who are followers of Christ) than we can ever hope or imagine.
2. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31-32, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did no spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ If God is our God – Lord of our life, then He who didn’t even spare His own Son, Jesus Christ, will give us what we need.
3. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” God is able. He is able to do more than our feeble minds can even conjure up. Isn’t that great that our God is so much bigger than us?!
4. Hebrews 13:5 says, “…be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” I don’t know about you, but this brings me comfort. He is not going to leave me no matter what the circumstances.
5. Finally comes my favorite verse…Jeremiah 29:11, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” What a promise! God knew from the beginning of time what He has spoken over each one of our lives, and He will see those plans through.
I hope that somehow today, we will take a better look at who God is and what He is doing around us. Let’s re-examine all the facts and evidence that all point us straight back to Him.
God bless!
Kristi
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed what you wrote and plan to tweet it out there. I thought I might add Matthew 13, the sower and the seed. The weeds were planted by an enemy and we’ve also got to remember that not ALL bad things that happen to us come because of our own sins or mistakes. We’ve also, I think, got to remember that God sometimes allows those weeds to move us into an area of growth we would otherwise avoid except for those challenges. In other words, as you point out, trusting God when we’re under attack is vital because we don’t always have the answers but we can trust the One who does have all the answers. Nice article.
Thanks, Patrick. You are absolutely right! Seems like lately, I’ve had a lot of weeds, detours, or whatever we want to label them, but through them I have become much stronger with a renewed sense of God’s presence. God bless!!
Kristi