Is God good only when God does the good you want?
Will you trust and have faith in God only when God responds in the way you want Him to respond?
Do you only want a God who does things your way?
Do you believe in God’s goodness, will you love God, serve God, obey God, trust God, live a Godly life, only when God acts the way you want?
When life is only about you, your wants, your focus, your desires, how God and man respond to you, have you found life, joy, and freedom?
“Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold on to true life” (Matthew 10:38-39 NCV)
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. (Matthew 16:24 Amplified Bible AMP)
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free’” (John 8:31, 32, 36 NLT)
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27 NASB).
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (John 16:33 AMP).
“I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing” (John 15:11 AMP).
Heavenly Father, I don’t always understand what is happening in my life or in the world, but I know You. I know You, God are a good, loving, compassionate, merciful, forgiving God. And in You we find true life, true joy, and true peace.
Lisa Buffaloe's Blog - Thoughts on God, difficulties, and just plain old life.
Excellent article. As someone who lives with chronic illness, and who has heard the prosperity gospel preached at her more times than she’d like to count: THANK YOU.
I believe our Father is honored when those of us that suffer daily, from whatever that may be, still look to Him, still honor Him, still speak of our devotion and love for Him.
Blessings, Lisa.
April, I’m so sorry for your suffering. Life is full of difficulties. Jesus warned us in John 16:33 “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I’m so grateful in the midst of pain and heartache we have a God who will carry us through. And as Paul shared in Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” As we share in sufferings we are taken to a deeper level of understanding of who our Savior truly is. And oh when we continue to walk in faith through illness like yours, we find blessings others cant imagine. Thank you for standing firm and loving Him even when life is hard. Thank you for your devotion and love for our amazing, loving Heavenly Father. I’m praying for you!
Abundant blessings,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I just happened to see this blog, A timely one.
Actually i was going thru a different kind of situation these days
Agony everywhere, death, sickness,financial difficulties pain etc etc
your post comforted me a lot and especially the one on your own life testimony. I thank God for your amazing testimony,
May the Good Lord keep you safe for His glory. May His name be glorified thru your efforts even in the midst of sufferings and pain.
Our continued prayers
I just created a new post on this issue and linked your blog too
without your prior permission.
Hope you don’t mind.
Here is the link http://pvariel.blogspot.in/2012/06/why-righteous-people-suffer-is-god-good.html
Best Regards
Keep Inform
Keep in touch,
Phil & Associates
Thank you, Phil. I’m honored. I’m so sorry for the difficulties, but grateful that you know our wonderful God. He promises to walk us (and those we love) through the fires. I wish we could go around those fiery trials, but God never wastes our time or our pain. Thank you for linking also to Jo Ann’s interview. She is a wonderful blessing!
God’s blessings to you,
Lisa