January 11th, 2022
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. -Romans 8:28 NIV
This week we are talking about how we respond as followers of Christ when life serves us lemons (hardships, difficulties, etc.) When my mind turns to this subject I immediately think of this chapter of Romans. I cannot count how many times I have fallen back on these verses when my heart was so broken that it hurt to even breathe.
When I found out that my child has a rare disease accompanied by significant life-changing disabilities, it really shook my pre-conceived understandings about the will of God. Why was my child fearfully and wonderfully knit together like this? Why are some people healed and others left in pain? Why do some people (who are completely devoted to the Lord) suffer the unexpected death of a loved one? Why, God? Why?
Romans 8:32 says: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
I’m starting to think that even if God gave me the full answer to “why”, I probably could not comprehend it fully with my human understanding. After all, even Jesus himself had to suffer to accomplish God’s purposes.
So, then a choice must be made – do I love Him? If I am convinced that I love Him and He loves me, I can withstand the pain because He’ll work it together for my good.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:35-39 NIV
By: Anna Williams
This week we are talking about how we respond as followers of Christ when life serves us lemons (hardships, difficulties, etc.) When my mind turns to this subject I immediately think of this chapter of Romans. I cannot count how many times I have fallen back on these verses when my heart was so broken that it hurt to even breathe.
When I found out that my child has a rare disease accompanied by significant life-changing disabilities, it really shook my pre-conceived understandings about the will of God. Why was my child fearfully and wonderfully knit together like this? Why are some people healed and others left in pain? Why do some people (who are completely devoted to the Lord) suffer the unexpected death of a loved one? Why, God? Why?
Romans 8:32 says: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
I’m starting to think that even if God gave me the full answer to “why”, I probably could not comprehend it fully with my human understanding. After all, even Jesus himself had to suffer to accomplish God’s purposes.
So, then a choice must be made – do I love Him? If I am convinced that I love Him and He loves me, I can withstand the pain because He’ll work it together for my good.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:35-39 NIV
By: Anna Williams
Posted in Living the Dream
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