“I wish someone would spank that kid.” That was probably said at one or more church picnics that I was running around at when I was a kid. How about you? Everyone has their war stories about how “kids back then” were disciplined and would never get away with what kids today do.
It cracks me up when I hear stories of parent’s telling kids “it hurts me more than it hurts you”…or, “this is for your own good.” Ya, okay, getting whacked on the backside is somehow good for me?
But, you know, it is good for us. In the moment we can’t possibly comprehend how this experience could be good for us, but our parents loved us enough to care less about us liking them in the moment, and more about shaping us into quality human beings. Parents see the big picture.
God, the good Father, kind of works the same way. See, the Bible tells us that God’s ways are higher than our ways and we cannot possibly comprehend the scope of his infinite and perfect perspective. We often find ourselves asking God “why?”…and I don’t just mean on the small things, but really painful stuff, like “God, why did you take my family member?” Or, “why did you allow this horrible thing to happen to me?” The truth is, we don’t really know…and often no pastor or Christian leader knows either. In reality, God, like the parent of the child, sees a much bigger picture. He sees eternity and he knows every possible variable of every possible outcome for every situation. So, sometimes, we just don’t know and we just don’t have direct answers.
But, here’s the good part. God promises that he’s working all things for our good. Those who have put their trust in Jesus can rest in the fact, the true fact, that God has promised that whatever is happening is for the long-term good. It might be brutally painful right now, but someday, we will know why. For now, he says to trust him and that, as it says in Psalm 65, he is “crowning thy year with goodness.” He loves you and even though stuff hurts, and hurts super bad, he promises that he is right there to carry you through. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ today and I promise (because I know that God has promised) that one day all the pain will make sense and you will see how God meant it for good. Simply pray, “Jesus, I know you paid the price for my sin and your sacrifice has set me free. I want to know God, I trust you, please come into my life and help me to follow you.” Now, get a Bible, read it, and let God work in your life and one day, one day, it will all make sense.
