Life is hard, but God is good.
Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God.”
Rough things happen in this life. Death, disease, betrayal from loved ones.
Philip Yancy, author of such books as Where is God When It Hurts and Disappointment with God, said, “The Bible is so clear on this point that I must conclude the real issue before Christians is not, “Is God Responsible?” But, “How should I react now that this terrible thing has happened?”
There is a difference between positive thinking and positive faith.
The Christian life is not meant to be comfortable. I wish is was. I like comfort. I like comfortable clothing and comfortable waistbands and going to bed early with my favorite pillow.
However, God is more concerned with my walk with Him, than my comfort.
God seems to have a way of comforting the disturbed and disturbing the comfortable.
So…whose Life is this Anyway?! Is it my life? To do with as I wish? Sometimes I wish this and then I think of Gal. 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God.”
We were not saved for a life of ease. But for Christ’s life. And If I’m reading the Bible correctly, I have a very long way to go. He didn’t have it very easy.
May God give us grace to move forward with what comes our way.
Blessings,
Thora
Wow, this is so true. We have to leave our selfish ways, thoughts behind us and live for Christ. This message and Brian’s message on Sunday has really got me pondering my selfish ways and looking for more ways to become a servant to others.
Thanks for a great thought provoking devotional, Thora. Glad you included the titles of Philip Yancy’s books for more reading. I just read the book of James this morning and it speaks of trials as a Christian. God is good and heaven awaits us as we persevere through this life. Thanks again.
I was trying to figure out who wrote this as I read it. It is one of those OUCH blogs. Thanks for the msg. I’m a big fan of Yancy!
Hi Thora! One thing God is re-teaching me right now is that sometimes I make my own life more uncomfortable and disappointing because even though I want His will, I want it worked out my way. And then I wonder why I’m “stuck.” Hmmm…