I have a friend who is only a year younger than me, has three beautiful young children, and has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Yesterday, she told me that they had found some spots on her liver... not sure if is nothing or something, but just the thought of yet another battle before her is crushing. My heart is crushed thinking about it, and all I want to do is sit with her and pray over her. I know that I am praying for her, as are many of her friends and family... and the scriptures tell us that Jesus is even interceding for her.
"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to interceded for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
In reflecting on many situations yesterday and this Scripture, the question came before me: "Which would be worse? Knowing that God is completely in control of our lives and that nothing happens to us that He doesn't allow... or knowing that God had no control at all." It is so hard to think that God allows things to happen to us. Honestly, the thought of that hurts. I mean, what kind of God would allow the bad things to happen? What kind of God would allow a young mother to have to battle cancer? What kind of God would allow children to be taken away from their loving parents? What kind of God would allow pain to happen? It is a hard question that I believe we all must struggle with.
"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 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 8:27-28)
The fact is that God wants what is best for us. He wants good things for us. Does that mean that nothing bad can ever happen to us? No... of course not! We live in a sinful world full of pain and suffering and death. Bad things happen. Life isn't fair. But God is still in control. He takes the bad that happens to us and turns it around for good. I have seen it happen. It has happened in my life. Through my pain and heartache, God has turned my heart into a compassionate heart that hurts and bleeds for others... that reaches out to those who are going through difficulty... that weeps for those who weep and cries out to God to be with them and take their pain away. God does work for the good. And that comforts me.
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed." (Acts 13:36)
Even though we go through dark times... even though God allows bad to happen... I would much rather have a God who is in control of everything and can turn the bad into good than have a God who had no control at all, and anything could happen to me at any time without any reflection. Even our tribulations and sufferings are approved ONLY if it fits in with the purpose that God has for us. If it doesn't fit in with that purpose, there is no way that God allows it to happen to us. So, if we must go through pain and suffering, trials and tribulations, I would much rather go through them knowing that my God has my best interests in mind, that He will be with me through it all, praying for me as I go along... and that finally good will come out of it.
" 'For 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.' " (Jeremiah 29:11)
