I have been running a week behind on posting, and am thinking there are more reasons than just my laziness or busy-ness for being late on this one. The first three chapters of Adam Hamilton's book addressed very real very human questions - why do the innocent suffer; why does my prayer go unanswered; why can't I see God's will for my life. The last chapter is a why, but it is an explanation rather than a question - why God's love prevails.
No where in the Bible does it promise that if you follow God, if you believe, life will be prosperous and easy. In fact, it is more often the opposite with the faithful suffering in this life. Fear, worry, pain, suffering are all part of being human. The challenge is in finding a way to live into our beliefs - being able to give up the need to feel like we are in control of life.
Someone said during our discussion that as you get older, it gets easier to give up a lot of your fears. Through experience you learn - don't sweat the petty stuff (and don't pet the sweaty stuff!). I agree with that statement! But when I see things like 911, genocide, Darfur, the shootings in Aurora, and even the small mean-ness in our every day lives, I have to be honest and say that it is really difficult to reconcile my belief in a God who wants the best for us and the evil in this world. It is a lot easier to say that than to live it.
Does that mean I am
unfaithful? I hope not. Maybe just as we experience an ebb and flow in the
rhythm of our lives, there is an ebb and flow in the intensity of our
spirituality. We all go through things that stretch us to our limits,
that cause us worry. Maybe worry and difficulty are part of an upward spiral. We move from times when we feel like everything is going well, we are in control to times when either personal or societal tragedies threaten to undo us. But faith sustains us and we come out on the other side stronger - mentally, physically, and spiritually.
When we see the innocent suffer, when we feel like our prayers are unanswered, when we feel lost and purposeless, that is when God's love prevails. Hamilton explains that God walks with us through difficulties. God works through us to be messengers to one another. God forces evil to serve God's purpose. And God delivers us - death and suffering are not the final word.
I have personally come to understand that God indeed does answer every prayer on or before I pray. The problem is NOT God answering the prayer, but rather me simply hearing the answer. God answered every prayer lifted during the Auroa, Colorado shooting - prior to the prayer being submitted. God is never surprised by a prayer request, and no human action ever surprises God. We simply mut learn to trust God as the scriptures say and then enter a state of "rest" in God's grace. This is very tough to do. Much easier said than done, but we can be at peace when we remember and accept that God loves all of us much more than we can ever understand. Terry
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