Sometimes I Even Hate Him . . .

[Littlelambseativy]

Do we blame God for things we do and the repercussions of our actions?? And then say it is God who is doing these things in our lives? We have free will....how can God be blamed or hated for not making things right when we make faulty decisions or choices? There are consequences to all our actions...take responsibility and thank God for helping you turn things around because you know He will do so. As for giving help or comfort, or advice...as a Christian we need to be helpers for those who suffer..but blame those who look on the positive side...not a good thing...they may be trusting in all things that Gob will guide them..if so teach how...if they are willing to listen.

[Guest]

 

Part of the reason I posted that was because I've been crossing paths with an awful lot more of the "happy-clappy" types lately than normal. I've always found those folks irritating because the "Christianity" the present isn't real. (A certain motivational type "preacher" who won't deal with sin comes to mind.) Their brand doesn't have any encouragement for someone hurting in it. It's like the kid looking for bread and being handed a stone. Its empty when trials come.

 

I found that while looking for something else and thought I'd share it because they guy did a better job on it than I would have.

 

in my 20s, i was a mess... as most 20-somethings are. i went with a friend of mine to a wedding in the texas panhandle one weekend, where we stayed at her aunt's house. she was one of those happy clappy christians. i thought since she was a christian, she would be compassionate and helpful when i sought her advice on something. instead, she told me that she did not believe in anything negative being spoken in her house, and that if i would walk a christian walk, i'd never have to deal with any sadness again. it's really sad that there are people out there who keep their head so surrounded by the light reflecting in their own fog that they can't offer a little light to a hurting world.

 

 

And that is exactly the kind of stuff I can't stand. Romans 8:28 is true -- but not what someone necessarily wants or needs to hear while burying a loved one. (That's just an example, by the way.)

 

There are times in life when the "Oh, just trust the Lord." thing sounds to the hurting person like one of 2 things:

 

1. A brush off or cop out.

2. A slap in the face.

 

When someone is in a lot of pain "just be positive" doesn't help.

[Guest shiloh357]

I think we need to be careful about how we grieve over a tragedy and how we deal with adversity, especially when the eyes of the world are upon us.   There is a natural grieving process and all of us are human and process pain differently.  

 

But we need to be aware that we are also a people who have a hope and have a source of strength that the world doesn't have.   It's one thing for an unbeliever to hate God over something that has happened in his or her life.  I kind of expect that. I can even see that happening in a new believer.    But when we, who talk about the hope we have in Jesus, when we can't deal with pain any differently than an unbeliever, we have a problem.   It' not okay for us to get to the place where we hate God.

 

We live in a fallen, broken world and pain, sorrow, disappointment and trials are a part of living here.  If the world sees us acting just like them, not living in the hope we claim to have, when they see us appearing just as hopeless as they are, what value does our faith have to them?   If it can't sustain us in the worst of situations, what exactly are we offering to the world?

 

It is in the pain we suffer that we need an eternal perspective.  It doesn't mean we wear a fake smile and act like nothing is happening to us, but it does mean that the world sees us as walking in the middle of the situation with calm assurance that this is in God's hands, that He is faithful and I don't have to live in despondency, I don't have to live under the thumb of fear and anger.  I am not letting this define me.  

 

I may not like what is happening to me, but at the same time, I have a loving savior to lean upon and I am not walking through this by myself and He is lead me out of this mess.  I don't understand what is going on, but God doesn't owe me an explanation.  I will praise when I am on the mountain and I will praise him in the valley.  He is God when everything is good and He is still God in middle of tragedy.   

 

We are a people who need to be able to reveal God's glory in situations  that other people see as hopeless.  God doesn't always fix everything and that's when we glorify Him the most.  It's when  we are like Job and we say, "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."    It is in the crucible of pain, trials and tribulations that our faith is purified, tested and made stronger.   

 

The most enduring and endearing testimonies I have ever known were of people who stare down the barrel of a terminal disease and still reveal the glory of God.  Their faith is not dampened;  and they often put me to shame when think about how much I grieve over my silly problems.  Honestly, here is a person whose body is wracked with pain, who can't breathe without assistance and he looks at me and his main concern is I know Jesus and if I am sure that I am going to heaven.  He is not focused on their pain;  He is using his last breaths to reach others for the Lord.    He has every reason to hate God, but he instead turns his pain into one last chance to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

 

That's where we need to be.  It's not about ignoring our pain and personal tragedies, but using them as a testimony and seeing them as an opportunity for God to show his power through us.

[hmbld]

Part of the reason I posted that was because I've been crossing paths with an awful lot more of the "happy-clappy" types lately than normal. I've always found those folks irritating because the "Christianity" the present isn't real. (A certain motivational type "preacher" who won't deal with sin comes to mind.) Their brand doesn't have any encouragement for someone hurting in it. It's like the kid looking for bread and being handed a stone. Its empty when trials come.

 

I found that while looking for something else and thought I'd share it because they guy did a better job on it than I would have.

 

in my 20s, i was a mess... as most 20-somethings are. i went with a friend of mine to a wedding in the texas panhandle one weekend, where we stayed at her aunt's house. she was one of those happy clappy christians. i thought since she was a christian, she would be compassionate and helpful when i sought her advice on something. instead, she told me that she did not believe in anything negative being spoken in her house, and that if i would walk a christian walk, i'd never have to deal with any sadness again. it's really sad that there are people out there who keep their head so surrounded by the light reflecting in their own fog that they can't offer a little light to a hurting world.

 

And that is exactly the kind of stuff I can't stand. Romans 8:28 is true -- but not what someone necessarily wants or needs to hear while burying a loved one. (That's just an example, by the way.)

 

There are times in life when the "Oh, just trust the Lord." thing sounds to the hurting person like one of 2 things:

 

1. A brush off or cop out.

2. A slap in the face.

 

When someone is in a lot of pain "just be positive" doesn't help.

I have heard others express this same thing. I don't know why but I don't agree. When my darkest days came nobody could help. But they could remind me to look to Jesus and tell me to trust Him. I was not offended but thankful for the simple wisdom in that.

[FreeinChrist]

36)  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37)  They were stoned, they were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented:

38)  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39)  And these all having obtained a good report though faith, received not the promise:

40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:36-40

We as believers do a great disservice to the word faith; by forgetting that it is our trust/belief in Jesus Christ that give us the victory, I John 5:4-5.  But this faith requires a daily walk with God, and I really know somewhat where you are coming from Walla, when I trust God to give me something I see the promises in the Bible, and don't get it yet see the ungodly receive the same thing, I know that God is more than capable, yet He doesn't do a thing, it does really cause great pain.  I have had my moments of feeling such hatred toward God that i am ashamed of,

But as the last 5 verse of the great heroes of faith chapters--Hebrews 11 states true faith will often seem like what the world and most of us believers would called defeat. And true faith trust God even in the difficult times.  We see many martyr for the Faith of Christ, crying to the Lord in Revelations 5:9-11.  True faith is not just believing for the devils do this...Thou believest, that there  is One God; thou doest well: the devils also believe: and tremble.  James 2:19  But they don't have a walk with God.

 

I look at the parable of the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8 and see that Jesus is trying to tell us that God the Father hears us all the time and loves us greatly, and notice that He bears with us, will I should say with me when I get uppity with Him, He knows I speak from the pain I feel.  And this I truly speak to my shame, and IMO the shame of the church do we really have faith.  No i am not talking about the name it claim it false gospel.  But the true Gospel of Jesus Christ which tells us we will suffer, II Timothy 3:12.   That we are not to love our life, John 12:25; which tells that Christ lay down His life for us so we ought lay down our life for the brethren, I John 3:16.  The words of Jesus in Luke 18:8 make me wonder does the modern church really know what a daily walk in faith with God though Jesus is?   I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?  Luke 18:8  True faith is I trust you God, and this is my desire but not my will but Your will and just speaking for myself I find this way hard so often, but the Lord Jesus Christ gave a great example of this, by desiring not to suffer the death of the cross for our sins, but knowing this was the plan and man only hope, went thru with it doing the Father's Will, Luke 22:42.

 

True Biblical Faith:

Rachel: cry give me child else I die.

John Knox: God give me Scotland else I die.

 

Modern Faith

Oral Roberts: God give 8 million dollars else I die.

 

May I and the Church learn to trust Jesus, true faith is to do justly, love mercy (for by it we are saved by Jesus Christ), and to walk humbly with God; Micah 6:8  For this the type of ground that bring forth fruit. Luke 8:8, 15

[Guest]

 

 

 

Part of the reason I posted that was because I've been crossing paths with an awful lot more of the "happy-clappy" types lately than normal. I've always found those folks irritating because the "Christianity" the present isn't real. (A certain motivational type "preacher" who won't deal with sin comes to mind.) Their brand doesn't have any encouragement for someone hurting in it. It's like the kid looking for bread and being handed a stone. Its empty when trials come.

 

I found that while looking for something else and thought I'd share it because they guy did a better job on it than I would have.

 

in my 20s, i was a mess... as most 20-somethings are. i went with a friend of mine to a wedding in the texas panhandle one weekend, where we stayed at her aunt's house. she was one of those happy clappy christians. i thought since she was a christian, she would be compassionate and helpful when i sought her advice on something. instead, she told me that she did not believe in anything negative being spoken in her house, and that if i would walk a christian walk, i'd never have to deal with any sadness again. it's really sad that there are people out there who keep their head so surrounded by the light reflecting in their own fog that they can't offer a little light to a hurting world.

 

And that is exactly the kind of stuff I can't stand. Romans 8:28 is true -- but not what someone necessarily wants or needs to hear while burying a loved one. (That's just an example, by the way.)

 

There are times in life when the "Oh, just trust the Lord." thing sounds to the hurting person like one of 2 things:

 

1. A brush off or cop out.

2. A slap in the face.

 

When someone is in a lot of pain "just be positive" doesn't help.

I have heard others express this same thing. I don't know why but I don't agree. When my darkest days came nobody could help. But they could remind me to look to Jesus and tell me to trust Him. I was not offended but thankful for the simple wisdom in that.

 

 

Good point. I'm thinking from the bolded sentence that the delivery of that reminder to look to Jesus makes a big difference. A caring friend you've known for a long time saying that would probably not feel like a slap in the face or a blow off. The person's tone of voice would be different too. It would not sound like a casual remark in that case.

[hmbld]

Part of the reason I posted that was because I've been crossing paths with an awful lot more of the "happy-clappy" types lately than normal. I've always found those folks irritating because the "Christianity" the present isn't real. (A certain motivational type "preacher" who won't deal with sin comes to mind.) Their brand doesn't have any encouragement for someone hurting in it. It's like the kid looking for bread and being handed a stone. Its empty when trials come.

 

I found that while looking for something else and thought I'd share it because they guy did a better job on it than I would have.

 

in my 20s, i was a mess... as most 20-somethings are. i went with a friend of mine to a wedding in the texas panhandle one weekend, where we stayed at her aunt's house. she was one of those happy clappy christians. i thought since she was a christian, she would be compassionate and helpful when i sought her advice on something. instead, she told me that she did not believe in anything negative being spoken in her house, and that if i would walk a christian walk, i'd never have to deal with any sadness again. it's really sad that there are people out there who keep their head so surrounded by the light reflecting in their own fog that they can't offer a little light to a hurting world.

 

And that is exactly the kind of stuff I can't stand. Romans 8:28 is true -- but not what someone necessarily wants or needs to hear while burying a loved one. (That's just an example, by the way.)

 

There are times in life when the "Oh, just trust the Lord." thing sounds to the hurting person like one of 2 things:

 

1. A brush off or cop out.

2. A slap in the face.

 

When someone is in a lot of pain "just be positive" doesn't help.

I have heard others express this same thing. I don't know why but I don't agree. When my darkest days came nobody could help. But they could remind me to look to Jesus and tell me to trust Him. I was not offended but thankful for the simple wisdom in that.

 

Good point. I'm thinking from the bolded sentence that the delivery of that reminder to look to Jesus makes a big difference. A caring friend you've known for a long time saying that would probably not feel like a slap in the face or a blow off. The person's tone of voice would be different too. It would not sound like a casual remark in that case.

I've been thinking about this and your right. It was the delivery. It was said with caring and expressed in a way to show the importance of taking everything to Jesus. That is why I didn't feel brushed off. This is still a mystery to me as even with my best intentions I find I am lacking in my communication with others.