YouTube Channel Video Devo
https://youtu.be/jqEeik9ERC0?
“’Why?’ Can Be A Deal Breaker”
James 1:2-3 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
In the past month, our church started going through the book of James and we will continue through the summer. I am excited as James is one of my favorite books of the Bible and has been for many years. I have always appreciated how bold and blunt the book is.
The very first sermon, I was hit with the idea that God isn’t asking us to be joyful about the bad things that happen in our lives. He’s not asking us to be joyful when cancer hits us, joyful when we lose our jobs or joyful when someone dies. God wants us to know that through the trials, He is working through us and in us and we can still experience joy in life knowing He is building endurance and perseverance in us.
As I sat there and listened, I thought about how so many people in the world get upset at God in hard times and shake their fist at Him. So many people hurt when they lose a loved one they prayed for would get through a disease. When those people die, it can create anger in us and asking God “Why? Why would You allow this to happen? We prayed and prayed and prayed, so why did You not come through?”
I’m sure many of us have had these questions floating in our heads and hearts. I’ve read about and heard people say they are angry with God over this or that and how situations turned out. It’s very hard to work through those situations and I can understand the hurt. Why would a loving God let this happen? It’s not easy to answer.
As I continued to listen to this sermon, one of the points was, instead of us asking “Why”, we should instead focus on the question, “God, what is it You are trying to do through me and show me?” This question will definitely shift our attitude and thinking to something more positive and productive. It won’t be an overnight deal, but slowly we can start to release our fist against God and connect more with Him and allow Him to work in us and through us to help us grow our faith and trust Him more. Sometimes in life we just have to accept what has happened and move on. But, it is NOT easy!
The question “Why?” can definitely be a deal breaker whether we continue to be angry at God or we release our fist and accept what has happened and allow God to start working through healing us. Again, it is absolutely not easy, but it’s very possible only with Him.
“Why?” can definitely be a deal breaker whether we continue in the life of faith or turn away from Him. Which will we choose?
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