Stripping Away The Misconceptions About God

by HJS

Do the old questions never go away? Almost everytime I talk with someone who has had a misfortune, I am asked, "How could a loving God do this?"

Most of our misconceptions are the result of not really knowing and understanding God, so when things you think shouldn't happen do happen, you either blame Him for what He isn't responsible for or else blame yourself because you reason that you are not good enough to get God's attention.

When you are confronted with difficulties, instead of turning on God, turn to Him and get to know Him. Understand that God doesn't arbitrarily command, "Go down there and get that person who just got out of line."

Some things happen because we live in a broken, imperfect and sinful world. Sometimes things happen because of our human failure. We reap what we sow - the cause and effect of life; but there are other things that happen, and even if God should tell you the reason, explaining in great detail why, you still wouldn't understand. How much better is it to learn that He is compassionate and caring. As a father who sympathizes with his child, God knows and understands and cares infinitely more than you think.

At some point in life, you cross a line - an invisible mark in your spiritual walk - where you say, "I will serve Him because He is God whether I understand or not, and leave to His disposition what is beyond my comprehension." Then instead of thinking He is the cause of your problem, you learn He is the solution to your pain and suffering.

"Let not the wise man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me..."   JEREMIAH 9:23-24 TLB