If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times:
God has a wonderful plan for your life.
Tell this to a grieving mother standing beside a gaping grave dug for her child. Tell it to a man who can’t keep the voices away, who longs to be normal but can’t will his mind to function properly. Tell it to a woman who was raped. Tell it to a child while he is being cut into pieces and suctioned from his mother’s womb.
I understand the sentiment behind what we are saying when we use this phrase. But, my friends, look around you. A great many people live lives full of sorrow, tragedy, horror, pain, and abuse.
Where is God in all this? the seeker will ask. What does God have to do with the pain and the sorrow in this world?
Why, everything.
He sees, He cares, He knows, and, yes, His will reigns supreme. This world is broken. We are broken people. God told us this would be so. He never promised a wonderful life. In fact, He promised hardship. Jesus said the poor will be blessed. But, He didn’t say He would end poverty. He said those who mourn will be comforted. But, He never promised that mourning wouldn’t be part of our lives.
Life is hard, even when you’re a Christian. Even when you try to love God with all your heart, bad things will happen. Terrible things will come. And, this is the danger in telling each other God has a wonderful plan for your life. Because there are just too many moments and hours and days and weeks that don’t feel like a wonderful plan. They feel like an awful plan. They feel like a devastating plan. And, in those moments, the wonderful life idea just rings hollow. It makes us mad at God. It makes us resent Him and it leads us to believe that He was lying when He said, I have a wonderful plan for your life.
Only He never said that. We have confused something well-meaning Christians have repeated millions of times with something that God actually promised. Yes, someone has been lying to you, but it’s not God.
Here’s the truth of the matter: If you are a Christian, God has a wonderful plan for your eternity. Jesus promised that He is getting some pretty amazing (dare I say wonderful) stuff ready for you in Heaven. And, He is coming back to Earth to do a whole new wonderful thing someday.
God has a plan for your life on earth, too. But, it’s not for a 100% wonderful existence. That was the garden of Eden. Times have changed. Our lives on earth will be trying, difficult, sometimes tragic, sometimes almost unbearable, often sprinkled with lots of great times, truly amazing and awe-inspiring experiences, and love. And all of these things, good and bad, bring glory to God, can help us know Him more, can bring us to our knees, can take us sailing to heights we’ve never known before. The human existence is a roller coaster of fear, doubt, happiness, pain, fun, beauty, anger, grace, mercy, anguish, and brokenness. God gives wonderful moments. But, this life isn’t always wonderful.
Learn to be okay with that. Learn that God does what He does for reasons you can’t always see or understand. Learn to believe that God is good, even when the un-wonderful of life creeps in.
This life is only one stitch in the infinite and intricate fabric of eternity. There is so much wonderful waiting for us in that forever. Until then, God loves you, and He has a plan for your life. Whatever it is, don’t lose faith when wonderful seems miles away. Even when the circumstances of life aren’t wonderful, our God still is.
Dana Peterson
Reblogged this on Eucharistimatic and commented:
Excellent Article, would like to add that God’s plan for us is directly linked to his kingdom–wherever we are in our lives.
St Chris Santos
This is and true and all but… the biggest problem with the modern day Christian is that they focus on SELF way too much. The Christian walk isn’t about being “all that you can be” or being able to climb every mountain. This is not our movie and we are not the star. Our primary purpose is to seek the lost and snatch them from the jaws of hell through the diligent and fearless preaching of the Gospel. People are dying and going to hell yet Christians are too busy focusing on their personal struggles, which the Bible refers to as “light afflictions.” We need to be bold in preaching the Gospel even in the face of persecution, which here in the U.S. doesn’t usually amount to much more than mockery or being unfriended on Facebook, whereas in other parts of the world the consequences of being a true Christian are far worse. We need to redeem the time, get over ourselves, seek the lost and keep our eyes focused on eternity.
Dana Peterson
While I agree with most of what you say, in several aspects my view differs. First, every person on earth suffers from selfishness–because that is what “sin” is. Next, “we” don’t need to fight, our purpose is to spread the word of God’s promise fulfilled through his Son Jesus, and then pray for the Spirit to work within that seed. “We” do not bring God’s grace to fruition, God does.
Thank you for your insights! Peace.
Laura Matson Hahn
Personally, I have come to believe the the real blessings in life are in the hardships – for that is where we get to grow …. and I believe “god”, however you see it, is actually watching us to see how we grow our own story. I believe we are God’s storybook.
Smith
This is a great perspective. I love that we fit into God’s story.
Lee Ascani
I would like to believe your take on Us being God’s ” storybook.” But to do that I would have to give up the tenant belief that God is omniscient. ( God knows all past present and future). How can he be a spectator ” watching us to see how we grow our own story,” when he knows the outcome of that story? How can life’s challenges be a test if He knows how we will fare out on the test? How can we claim to have free will when God knows our choices before they are made through our free will? What kind of test is that?
Ruby Greenville
I also wonder about this. Do we live in God’s will or do we live in Man’s will?
Terri
I like this step out there, to remimd us life isn’t fair and was never promised to be. I had brain surgery last month and I remember getting so frustrated when people would tell my 14 year old son that – your mom is gooing to be fine cause we.prayed for her, everyone.is praying for her, she is strong. A week before my surgery, i took.time to.sit down with my son to explain. I am a Christiam, you are a Christian, everyone is praying, but that doesn’t mean that I will be ok. God never said that. Pray for Gods will, pray my son will be ok, but asking for a perfect outcome won’t make it so. I had to explain that if I wasn’t it didn’t mean God didn’t love me or him and that people weren’t truly praying, it just meant God had other plans. I hoped this would prevent my son from becoming bitter or angry with God if things don’t go as we hope. I don’t want him to go thru life as a victim because something is wrong with his mother. He has to grow up understanding that he doesn’t get a pass to act like a hoodlum or expect people to go easy on him. We have been shown so much love and support and that is something to be grateful for not dependent upon or expected.
Fritz
Amen to that!!! May God continue to enlightened your understanding and may you always find peace with God by trusting
Him for everything in your life.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God gave his only Son for our benefits…… there is nothing else He would not give to us if it was in accordance with his will.
God is Good, God is Perfect and God is Love….and that is always!!!!
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to PROSPER you and not to HARM you, plans to GIVE you HOPE and a FUTURE.
Rest and assured, know that God loves you!
Terri
Love to see people back their statements with scripture! God has a purpose. Prosper doesn’t always mean what we think it does, and often what we hope for in the beginning, but it leads us down a road that we were meant to be on. Sadly it has taken a lot of heartache and a little age for me to realize that worry just makes you feel bad and that trusting the Lord and working hard makes life much more enjoyable.
Morgan
I’m 16 and my mother has cancer. I hear those same things every time we work at my grandmother’s auction house. I’m so tired of hearing it, but I know they mean well. I just wish my mother knew this was part of God’s perfect plan for our lives, even if it doesn’t seem like it. The Lord be blessed always.
sspeegle
What a wonderful way to express your understanding to your son! We have adopted children who have had bad things happen to them and they way inwhich you explained to your son… is pretty much the same way we explain to our children about their experiences too. God doesn’t want bad things to happen to them, but sin is in this world and we have to realise that God is our cornerstone and without him we cannot make it through this time on to the next! I pray that God will continue to bless you and your son!
Terri
Thank you. God bless you and your children. That is a huge undertaking, your world will be forever changed. I have an adopted brother and sister and their lives were incredibly difficult so they are quite different. They have shown support in their way thru all this. My brother and his random texts to me and my son and my sis with her numerous amounts of cards she sent because she didn’t know to be serious, funny, sentimental, so she just sent them all! You have such a difficult road with huge blessings attached. Keep them close to God and remind them daily to pray.
Terry
Wonderfully put.
Luanne
As someone who currently feels like my world is falling apart this is a good reminder. God has been my strength and my hope these last weeks, and there’s a long road ahead that I will need to lean heavily on his love and provision. Thank you!
Kimberly
Thank you for putting into words something that has been on my heart for some time. Will you please tell this to my local “Christian” radio station? Every time I hear them say that, it makes my skin crawl.
jodzeee
Kimberly, may I suggest you e-mail a link to this article to them?
JON
NO MATTER WHAT……I AM TELLING YOU NO MATTER WHAT GOD DOES HAVE A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR YOU….YOU MIGHTNOT SEE IT UNTILL THE END….BUT IT WILL BE FANTASTIC……I;VE BEEN THERE…I KNOW!
Michelle Blankenship
Jon,
I am so glad for you that you have seen the wonderful plan that I’m guessing came out of some suffering you experienced, but you are wrong to assume that God gives that to everyone in *this* life. Of course, He has a wonderful plan for His children in our *after*life, but to assume that just because God showed *you* something wonderful that He operates the same way with everyone is to be sadly mistaken. There are many who suffer greatly in this life who die never having seen any good fruit come from it. This post is for those people. And for all people, really. What this blogger said is true – the Bible *never* says, “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” And we must not say what He has not said.
zachkinder
What about the blind man in John 9? The man Jesus explicitly says was born blind so that God’s glory might be displayed in Him. It is no faux pas to say God has a wonderful plan, because He does. But plan and life are not synonymous. Like I said below – God is USING YOU to change the lives of people here, to make a difference in eternity. Once you are IN eternity, you cannot make a difference. Your life and faith do have a purpose and they do have a wonderful plan, even if you never see the fruits. Doesn’t mean you’ll have a wonderful life.
Debi Souza
Very well put, Michelle. Thank you.
Patricia
Thank you Terri, I had always heard that and at 63 i wondered where my wonderful plan was? Now I understand better and reading this blog that i just stumbled upon has helped me tremendously. God has blessed me with alot and I have had alot taken away. He lets us make our own choices and when he gives us a blessing and we turn away from it, that is our choice. Does not mean that was his plan. I finally realized that with age. I know see when terrible things happen I now pray for God’s will, not what will make me feel better. That came with age and I wish the young generation would get that. I sure wish i had gotten it earlier in life. I am trying to get my sister to pray for God’s will with our parents. They have no quality of life and just hang on from day to day in illness and terrible pain and we were all praying for them to be better but I realized our better would keep them in suffering, so now I pray for God’s will as he is the only one that knows how they are truly suffering and he will decide when it is their time, and my sister thinks i am nuts probably and just does not want to lose our parents because she feels she has caused them pain and wants to make it better, but i tell her she cannot. Only God.
Anon Imus
Really??
Debbie
How do you know and where have you been?
Rena
It is not wonderful when you are burying your child.
Michelle
A renewed and deeper faith comes through this type of loss.
Sylvia
This post is spot on and greatly needing to be heard! My daughter had brain cancer at age 2 and has suffered with debilitating disabilities ever since for 13 years now. She does not have a wonderful life. Though we do have some wonderful moments! The only comfort I have is that God has a plan for her but for whatever reason through no fault of her own or her parents- it is not a wonderful one. But He is in control and He knows what He’s doing and someday she when we all get to heaven we will understand. I can’t wait for that day!
http://www.faithfulmomof9.com/bethanys-diagnosis/
godfollower007
this is SO great! thanks so much for posting! it drives me crazy when i hear people say, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” when the fact of the matter is, maybe He doesn’t have a wonderful plan for your life here on earth. again great post!
twb
Amen and amen! I remember even from my early days as a Christian, hearing people say this and thinking about how many of the Apostles and early believers were martyred, and wondering if that fit the speakers’ definition of “wonderful plan.”
And then realizing that, to many of those martyrs, it was indeed wonderful, just not the way we usually think of that word.
twb
Reblogged this on Many Words and commented:
One of those catchphrases that has rung just a little hollow to me since first becoming a Christian.
Derek
I enjoyed this piece… I do however take exception with some of the sentiment…. You see, “Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly,” “He became the curse” and we are victorious because of his victory on the cross and over the grave. You see, it is safe to say, to anyone, God has a “wonderful” plan for your life, regardless if your circumstance, because too often we as believers forget that we have an enemy that has come to “rob, kill and destroy” and he isn’t going to stop until he is successful, so it’s time we as a church quit assigning “blame” to God and assign it to the one where it comes from… The devil.
Food for thought…. If God is who He says He is, He can’t be the opposite of what the scriptures tells us He is.
Shannon
Derek – AMEN!!!! So many people want to blame God for what the enemy is doing!
Tammi Kauffman
So, does He have a lousy plan for some….or no plan? What about “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”? And, “All things work together for good for those who love God, to those called according to His purpose.”
Let me tell you part of my story. My mother tried to abort me. I never knew my father. He never cared that I existed. I was raped before I reached middle school….several times a week….for 4 years. It was the toll I paid to get to my bedroom. My dad and teenage sister were killed in an automobile accident. I lost 6 babies to miscarriage. And I firmly believe God has a wonderful plan for my life. All those things work for my good…towards the wonderful plan He has for my life….to prosper me. None of those things were part of His plan…they were the enemy’s plan. His plan is wonderful. His sovereignty ensures that whatever evil the enemy plans will be turned to good, and not just in eternity.
Yes, at times it seems a hollow thing to say. But, at times, it is just what someone needs to hear. Maybe the actual phrase is not in Scripture, but the verses I listed plus others basically say it. His plan is to prosper me….to work for good.
zachkinder
Jer. 29:11 is a misused verse often taken out of context. The verse was God’s promise to an exiled nation to return them to their homeland. Not for Christians to use to make us feel better about our lives. It’s harsh, but it’s wrong, and it’s not the Gospel. Too many people suffer without hope, and a lot of people don’t have a future. But that in no way affects God’s love for you. The Bible says we are building up treasures in Heaven and perseverance builds endurance. Everything does work out for the good of those who love Him, but His good isn’t prosperity. His good is a deeper love and longing for Him. That’s why when people say God doesn’t give you more than you can handle you should frown away from it. God WILL give you more than you can handle. Not because He’s callous, but to show you that you NEED Him. It’s mercy, and it’s Him pursuing you. It’s part of a romance even Hollywood can’t fathom.
Kelly
We are given more than we can handle to make us stronger. We should not shy away from it, but grasp onto it with both hands. God wants us to rely on Him and if we think we can do it on our own, that’s when sin digs a deeper holdfast on our lives
Michelle
It all makes sense now … All the children born, who get abandoned and grow up on the streets in poverty… I always wondered about “God’s plans for them”. Cuz I thought God knew us in our mothers uterus and every hair on our heads. I thought everyone is supposed to be born for a “purpose”. But this clearly is not the case. Guess I can’t use that scripture about God having good plans for me ever again. 🙁
Taryn
God does have a plan and it is to prosper you. It just might not be the prosperity we are accustomed to. Gods ways and thoughts are not the same as ours. Our worldy idea of prosperity is not the same as His.
Kelly
Those children in the streets have a purpose. The purposes bigger than we can understand sometimes. We just have to have faith and trust it. That’s the difficult part. It is all meant for furthering His kingdom
Gayle
These are Biblical truths so wonderfully stated.by Melissa. As in the story of Joseph, God’s greater purposes were for the good of Joseph, his family, and for his descendants, but that did not make Joseph being sold into slavery and being falsely accused and put in prison seem like abundant living. Joseph was blessed later in his life, and his faith in God did help him to face trials with a godly attitude. Not everyone’s experience is the same as in the example of the thief that died on the cross with Jesus. Did the thief’s salvation bring him a wonderful, abundant life on earth? I am sure that he experienced some peace and comfort in his dying moments, but he still suffered greatly and died shortly after receiving the gift of eternal life in Christ.
Sara
I disagree. I think it is somewhat selfish for us to assume that the “wonderful plan” is all about us and having our lives free from hardship. The “wonderful plan” is about Him…about us listening, fulfilling our destinies in Christ and bringing glory to His name…being open and willing to be filled with His spirit and used as His vessel…reaching out to people in His name. The “wonderful plan” has very little to do with me.
Shari
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking!
realbuckyball
“Jesus promised that He is getting some pretty amazing (dare I say wonderful) stuff ready for you in Heaven. And, He is coming back to Earth to do a whole new wonderful thing someday.” Perhaps you should take a course on the Bible. The Hebrews did NOT believe in immortality, neither did St. Paul, (except for the “saved”).
Actually Jesus never promised any such thing. You cannot find one scripture that says that. You made it up, because your brain NEEDS to make sense of it’s environment, and the things you have no explanation for. That make more sense to you than anything else. It’s a fairy story, like Santy, and the Easter Bunny.
Psalm 39 :
“Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again,
before I depart, and am no more”
Psalm 115 :
The dead do not praise the Lord,
nor do any that go down into silence”.
The Hebrews believed EVERYONE went to Sheol. Their god lived in heaven.
Their concept of immortality developed over a long period of time, and is well documented by scholars. You should try to get an education some time.
Melissa
Jason, Judaism and Christianity are quite different. And there are plenty of Scriptures about Heaven. Jesus talked about it quite a lot. Just a cursory glance at the internet will show you as much. Thanks for the comment.
My Info
Jesus said before His ascended to heaven that He was going to prepare a place for us. He also said that in His father’s house there are many mansions.
zachkinder
You, sir, are incorrect. Per history, Pharisees adopted the ideas of Heaven and Hell after their exile in Persia. The Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife, but lost much power in 70 CE. Jesus stressed eternal punishment in many of his parables, and it is even referred to as “the second death.” But He also spoke of paradise. You would be hard pressed to find anyone would equate paradise with a second death.
Taryn
John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
me
God does have a wonderful plan for you life.;but your life will be used for his glory! he shows himself may times through sorrow. For example, When a someone dies we are in pain and want the person here..many times we see exactly how God used that person for his good other times we will not see until we get to Heaven. But his plan is Wonderful..His wonderful not ours!!
Will Tommy Jones
C’mon yall…I realize that no one wants to hear the truth and that human beings are liars by nature…quit trying to make sense of something that does not exist. You are obviously scared and just think that is so wrong to speak the truth when it comes to Christianity..What, YOU think you are one of the chosen ones since you just happened to be born in a place where Christianity is the # 1 religion?…You think you know the truth? Do you not think you would be a Hindu had you been born in India or a Muslim if you were born in the Mid East?..If he knows , sees and has a plan for everyone, he sure is a piece of crap!…He has 10 commandments and if you break one of them he will DAMN YOU TO HELL FOR ETERNITY!..But he loves you…bahahaha…that makes a lot of sense, huh?…The invisible guy in the sky that you cannot see, touch, hear or smell…just have faith. I have more faith that Peter Cottontail exists..everyone has a right to their own beliefs. I grew up in a christian family. However, I got tired of cringing every time I lied to someone who asked me whether or not I believed in God. I too thought it was an awful thing to say ‘No I do not”…The church was a very big part of my life for 16 years. i wouldn’t have dared say “No”. It would have made me feel like I was a bad person…SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE GUILT TRIP THAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES love to put on one another. Besides just because your parents told you that God existed does that mean that they know everything and are perfect.If you grew up in a family where your parents taught you to hate other races, do you just automatically hate them?…Yeah, you probably do for the same reason that you think that they have the answer to creation. That reason would be BECAUSE YOU ARE A FOLLOWER AND DO NOT HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN. One day I thought ” you know, it tears me up every time I say Yes to that question. Besides is it not a sin to tell a lie. I AM FREE! one last note: NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE KNOWS THE TRUTH. My belief is that God was a UFO…by the way, WHO WERE GOD’S PARENTS? xoxoxox GJM
julieowen3
your views are interesting. All valid questions. I am a believer. My only question is, what made you read this post? Is your life’s mission to read blogs about scriptural subjects and try to convince others there is no God? Isn’t that kind of what you are accusing others in your life of doing in your past? No judgement, just an observation. Hopefully you’ll keep reading things of this nature and be more confident in your belief (whatever that may be) and less angry. Not sure who you are angry at but reading your post it seems more like you are bound by anger and bitterness and experience less of the “freedom” you claim. Again, just an observation from your words.
Will Tommy Jones
Hello Julie :)..thanks for your kind words..i really am not as much angry as i am in amazement of the human race when it comes to many things..not just one’s belief in God…I knew i might be opening up a can of worms by responding to that blog and hestated before i posted my comment. So, when i saw you had responded, I expected a tatally different kind of response than what you gave me. Most would have responded w/ “the bible says this or that” which in all reality means nothing to me being i do not believe in the God I was taught to believe in as a child growing up in a southern Baptist church. i do not knock anyone and who am I to say that they are wrong for what they believe in. I am a professional musician by trade and began playing the piano in the 1st Baptist Church in Olney, Texas at 10 years of age. I, by choice, was involved in the church and was there every time the doors opened and by the age of 13 I had decided that I would dedicate my life to the ministry and become a music director eventually as a profession. At the age of 16, I went on the road w/ a Baptist evangelist playing revivals around the southern parts of the U.S until age 18. i remember my parent’s concern that I might have a bad experience although I did not know what they meant. they however let me do this partially due to the fact that my father’s 1st cousin was the music director at the 1st Baptist Church in Wichita Falls and was the one who hooked me up w/ the job w/ Lee Castro (evangelist). Well, parents have a way of sensing things I reckon..lol…and they were right…I had a very bad experience. You see all my life in the church that I grew up in,I remember my friends going down to the front of the church and rededicating their lives to Jesus and on many occasions they would stand up and say ” I asked the lord for this or that and he told me this or that.”… well during all those formative years, I began to think that there was something wrong w/ me becuase to tell the truth, I had said from the age of 9 that I believed. What bothered me was though was that never did I feel he “talked to me” in any way form or fashion whatsoever.. I honestly realize looking back that i NEVER believed in him at all. I just thought it was wrong not to believe in God so I, like I feel the majority of Christians do, pretended to believe in this God for the simple reason that if I did not, everyone around my families and friends circles of people would think less of me. So then I saw a whole lot when working w/ this evangelist that I could not buy into. It is a scam. I also performed at the Dallas Convention Center at an evangelistic conference for approximately 2500 evangelists from across the country. James Robinson ( a semi famous Baptist evangelist) was the keynote speaker and Lee Castro was the featured singer for the conference. What I experienced there was major culture shock. I spent much time around 100’s of these evangelist and it was one of the sleeziest groups of people that I had ever and have ever been around to this day.. i also was introduced to the formula for success of a successful minister or leader as was taught to them while attending the seminary. To put it quite bluntly, they teach at the seminary how to preach to your congregation and bring them to an emotional low seconds before passing the plate. I then began to observe Lee Castro over the coming months and watched this happen night after night. He had me selling his album at the end of each nights sermon as people were going out the door. I saw little old ladies w/ tears coming from their eyes as they dug in their coin purses to try and come up w/ the $5.00 it cost to purchase the album. I am a very observant individual, and I know that many of these people did not or could not afford to spend the 5 bucks due to being on a pension check or just being downright poor. this opened my eyes. Most who were buying the record were not buying it for the same reason that they wanted an Elvis Presley LP…lol…they were doing this to help spread the word of God, supposedly, but in all reality they had just been taken by a smooth talking scam artist who had them confused about the difference in following their heart as opposed to following their emotions which had just been tampered with. I was making big bucks at 16 ears of age..1972 was the year and we traveled in Cadillacs w/ televisions in them and never did I see any of this money going to help those truly in need or to promote Jesus Christ..all organized religions, in my opinioon, are all about money…as is everything that is organized on this planet..Kind of like the Christian Childrens Fund…they get about 80 cents out of 30 bucks you give them a month.. the charitable non profit organization pays their employees and the rest goes in some greedy individuals poket. The Red Cross, the same…I will not EVER give a dime to any organized non profit org simply because there is no such thing…I am very poor but if that ever changes, the first thing i intend on doing is to invest in a used refrigerated truck and fill it w/ food and take the food to the poor parts of town where people are hungry…this way I KNOW every dime I have donated to a cause is going DIRECTLY to those in need. Anyway back on the subject, never from the age of 18 have If ever been back in a church other than to play at 100s of weddings and funerals over the years. I began a professional music career upon graduating high school and after a couple years in the music program at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. i fought w/ myself for the next 12 years wanting to believe in God. I have no doubt in my mind…NONE whatsoever, that the God I was taught to believe in does not exist. Finally at 30 years of age I was able to say that I did not believe in God w/o feeling guilty about it. I truly lean towards Hinduism if I were to have to explain my beliefs to someone. However, I came to my decision of what I believe due to my own life experiences and not from reading any literature or even knowing what the Hindu’s beliefs might have been. I know who I was in my last life. I know what my name was and who my relatives were and some of them are members of my family from this life and I, as a child, got to spend holidays w/ friends of my parents who in all reality were my parents in my last life. This is all very complicated but is real and I will not go into it unless you want to know and I will be glad to tell you what I went through leadin up to my rememberance of qall this…I will tell you though that it was such an experience, that a group of professors from the univertsity in Denton wanted to do research on my experiences but I already had my answer and I felt the public did not need to know due to the way people in general think…they would have made me out to be some weirdo and I was not up for my personal life being exploited. Anyway, it was later that I read some things about Hinduism and saw the similarities to my beliefs…but once again, I do not believe 75% of what they teach. This really is my whole point and I feel that many times people misjudge my attitude due to not knowing how to GENTLY put into words what I have expereinced. i DO NOt think there exists a religion one that is right about wat they believe. Not that their intentions are not good…rather the opposite..You have to realize that all religions/churches were formed by a couple of people like you and me…everyone else is going by a handfull of peoples opinions or beliefs and they are “followers”. none of us will truly know the truth until it is too late…lol..but not really…that is what the Christians have seemed to develop over the years w/ putting the “fear of God” in us all. I could never be so arrogant as to say that I know the truth…I DO know however, that we are reincarnated and if you think about it, the human body is made up of mostly carbon and everything we do is “electrically charged”. Basically we are one big ball of energy. Our bodies, yes, are just a vehicle for this life. However, science has proven that you cannot destroy energy…it never goes away…just as radio or tv signals go out over the airwaves, EVERY brodacast that has ever been broadcasted is still being sent throughout space. You cannot destroy energy and that is what we are made of. So when we die, all this energy that we are made up of has to go someplace AND the fact that we are a very complex species leads me to believe that YES there is a reason why we are here and I DO believe we were created therefore why would be so intelligent to just be born and then to just die?….I do not think there is religion on the face of the earth that is even close to the truth. Humans as a whole are scared of what they do not know. Kind of like when we were afraid to cross the ocean not knowing the world was round or what was on the other side. Now then this is how I feel about space and other planets. First off I believe there are billions of planets just like earth w/ human beings on them. Just because we do not have the technology to see that far into space does not mean a thing. Especially being that as w/ numbers never ending, neither does space. Why would there not be more planets just like this one. Before crossing the ocean for the 1st time, I am sure that people did not believe that there were flowers or trees on the other side of all that water. there will come a day that going to planet X, W , Y or Z will be no different than a trip from Dallas to Phoenix to SanDiego and back home is to us today. One final note, my beief TRULY is that the Christian religion stems from them seeing UFO’s . Throughout the bible they speak of charots of fire…a chariot is a vehicle of sorts and the fire would be the light or fuel or vapor trail following them If you look at ANY picture bible, you will see that all depictions show a bright light coming down out of the sky towards earth right above pictures of Jacobs ladder, Jesus knmeeling down and looking into the sky etc…well if you think about it, these people had never seen an airplane or helicopter …nothing had they seen like a “UFO”…I believe it scared them and I also believe that our translations of what happened back then over the years have become distorted…like the game we used to play sitting in a circle whispering something in the ear of the one sitting next to us and then by the time it reached to 6th or 7th person, the entire story had changes in a matter of minutes..so think how this story has changed over hundreds of years and through multiple translations. I am sorry for the lengthy email, but felt compelled to answer your kind response to my somewhat abrasive post ( the abrasiveness was not intentional, only happens due to my irritations w/ society at times and their general shallow mindedness). I am a singer/songwriter w/ a record contract that I finally signed a year ago after all these years of trying to achieve my dream that I have had since i was a small child. The name of the band is WILL TOMMY JONES. Actually, Will Tommy Jones was my granfather who died one year prior to my birth who was a musician. So I named the band in his honor. The genre of music is “Hick-Rock”. This is what I chose to call it being there is nothing out there or any category of music that we really fall into. it has been a slow start which is actually normal for a newly signed artist and in the most part, it is the 2nd album that gets a new artist known, then people go back and buy the 1st one after discovering their 2nd album… and we are starting production of the 2nd album in January 2014…My brother died from a melanoma mole at 62 a couple years ago…this is also what killed WT Jones..last time I talked w/ my brother a couple weeks before he died, I hung up the phone and wrote one of the cuts off our debut album called “DON’T ASK WHY”. This song addresses the issue of death and reincarnation and although no one else in my family necessarily believes as I do, i wrote this song containing my beliefs as a tribute to my brother… the cancer had already gotten into his brain. i was very sad and wrote this song in about 5 minutes. if you wouldn’t mind, I would like for you to go to my website and listen to all 8 cuts off the album. Here iks the link: http://www.wtjoneshick-rock.com/listen I CERTAINLY hope that I have not freaked you out w/ all I have had to say. But, ask me a qustion and you will get an answer..lol..but I cannot guarentee you a short answer..I tend to ramble, but this way I am sure of covering ALL areas that I am trying to cover to justify my reasoning. xoxoxox Gary Joe Mitchell P.S….lol..This one of the verses to a song that will be on my 2nd album called “Holler Scream and Yell”.: “THEY TALK OF CHRAIOTS OF FIRE IN THE BIBLE. I BELIEVE THEY WERE UFO’S. THE ALIENS SHOWED UP ABOVE US AND MADE US WORSHIP HERE DOWN BELOW. THEY SAID, “I AM GOD”, IN FEAR WE DROPPED TO OUR KNEES. TO THIS DAY THEY GOTTA STILL BE LAUGHING AT ALL OF YOU AND ME. (chorus) SO WHEN I DIE HELP ME FIND YOU, PLEASE HOLLER SCREAM AND YELL. I HOPE YOU HOME IN ON ME FROM SOME ALIEN HOTEL. ‘CAUSE NOW I GOTTA REASON TO LOOK UP TO THE STARS. PLEASE GET MY ATTENTION FROM SOME ALIEN HOTEL BAR”.
Michelle Blankenship
Tommy,
First I want to say that I am SO SORRY about your experience with Lee Castro and other evangelists. Your anger toward them in their scamming (emotionally, financially, and spiritually) is absolutely justified and is what the Bible calls righteous anger. The Bible speaks against the very thing they were doing! But please do not throw the baby out with the bath water. Just because *they* were liars and scammers doesn’t mean that all Christians are. There are many, many pastors and missionaries who are very poor, who never ask for more money, and who sacrifice themselves (as Christ has asked them to) day in and day out for the good of *others*, both inside and outside the church. My evangelical church is just one example among many, of people who don’t have much to give, but they give what they *do* have to those who have even less – to the truly poor and helpless among us. And they don’t just give money – they have given of their time, their help, their service; they have even given cars and homes away to the poor.
Those evangelists you worked with are getting their reward (money) now, and they will be judged by God for causing you and others to deny the faith because of the abhorrent behavior. Jesus NEVER taught what those men were doing. He taught (and lived) love and self-sacrifice, and that is what He requires of each of us. I hope you can one day come to see that what you experienced was not true Christianity. It was a lie. Of COURSE, you should have left that behind! But don’t leave behind the *true* Christ. He loves you and died for you.
Michelle Blankenship
Will, be careful here, for your own logic is coming back to bite you.
“Do you not think you would be a Hindu had you been born in India or a Muslim if you were born in the Mid East?”
True. We probably would be Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist if we had been born anywhere else in the world. But don’t think you are above this. YOU, my friend, were born into an anti-Christian culture (your family may have been Christian, but the air we breathe in America is anti-Christian), so too, you would not have anti-Christian the beliefs you have now if you hadn’t been born here.
“If he knows , sees and has a plan for everyone, he sure is a piece of crap!”
Look, I know you wrote that just to get our hackles up. Was that fun? But listen, this is not an argument. You may not like God (although your view of how God operates is wrong – more on that in a minute), but even if He did operate this way, not liking Him doesn’t make Him not exist.
“He has 10 commandments and if you break one of them he will DAMN YOU TO HELL FOR ETERNITY!”
Well, no, that’s not quite true. Actually, we are born enemies of God… and we want to be… just like you show you do here, so He gives us what we want. BUT, if we repent and believe, He gladly gives us heaven. Jesus died so that He could forgive us of our sins against Him. And He LOVES to forgive us (obviously, or He wouldn’t have sent His Son to suffer that terrible death).
“The invisible guy in the sky that you cannot see, touch, hear or smell…just have faith.”
Notice that you also are having quite a bit of faith in what you believe, and you’re taking a major gamble that you’re right. But you cannot possibly KNOW you are right, thus you have faith. Also, you cannot see, hear, touch, or smell my thoughts. I wonder if you believe I’m having them. 😉
I applaud you for beginning to tell the truth about what you believe for lying gets us nowhere.
“YOU ARE A FOLLOWER AND DO NOT HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN.” Just like you, in this culture, my friend, are a follower of the most popular religion in America today, namely, anti-theism. But also, you have just lumped every Christian into being a follower who has not searched these things out for themselves. Surely there are those who blindly follow, but that just isn’t true for far too many people for you to be able to justifiably make that generalization. There are thousands of Christians in America alone who are much more well educated in not just Christianity, but also history, philosophy, anti-theism, and other religions than you are. There have been and are thousands of *Christian* Ph.D. scholars who read and translate the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages (that the Bible was written in), who have studied in-depth the ancient cultures and religions of the world, who keep up with scientific discoveries, and remain up-to-date on current anti-theist philosophy, yet they are even more fervently Biblically Christian with each passing day. I personally know many Christians who are just like this, so don’t be misled into thinking that we’re all brainless idiots.
Also, I find it ironic that Christians are the ones accused of being followers who don’t think for themselves when they are the ones going *against* the teaching they received in public school, and most certainly the teaching they received in college, and quite definitely the propaganda that is spewed forth from the media, Hollywood, politicians, etc., etc. *They* are the ones going *against* the popular cultural beliefs, and yet *they* are the un-thinking followers? I don’t think so, my friend. You’ve got that backwards. It’s far too easy to be anti-Christian in our culture today. It’s mental laziness, really.
“NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE KNOWS THE TRUTH.” That is a self-defeating statement because you obviously believe that statement is a truth. You can’t *know* that statement to be true and then say that no one knows the truth, see? It is also a faith statement. You can’t possibly *know* that’s true, so you have *faith* that it is.
“My belief is that God was a UFO.” I don’t know if you’re just saying this to be funny, but just in case you’re serious, if ever faith was required for a belief, there it is since there is absolutely NO evidence whatsoever that God was a UFO. It’s a story completely fabricated out of thin air. On the other hand, Christianity has a book written by people who were eye-witnesses of God/Jesus, and there’s a plethora of historical evidence that many of the things written about in it actually happened. So Christianity takes less faith to believe in than the UFO theory.
Finally, “WHO WERE GOD’S PARENTS”? God didn’t have parents. He didn’t need parents. He has existed from eternity past. Just because we don’t understand that doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist exactly as He has told us He does. It just means our finite minds can’t wrap around that notion. But this isn’t a problem for you or any other anti-Christian out there. There are plenty of things you can’t explain that you still accept on faith or just go about your daily lives not worrying about. On the other hand, if the world had come about just by purely natural processes, then we would expect to be able to understand it. The very fact that there is so much we can’t understand is at the very least a shadow of evidence that there is a God. He is God and we are not, and we do not have the right to demand answers from Him that He does not want to give. We may not like that, but it doesn’t change the fact that He has ordered things a certain way and that His way is for the *good* of His children in all things. We know this because He chose to enter into our suffering and trials with us. He did not spare Himself this pain. No other religion has a god who loves people this way. All other gods are *above* the suffering of this world. But a God (the Christian God) who puts Himself in our place to save us even though *we* are the reason He is suffering is a God who can be trusted, in my book.
Will Tommy Jones
first off YOU are wrong for telling me that I am wrong. No one knows the truth and if you think you do then…DISCUSSION OVER..!!!..YOU ARE ARROGANT ..Read my response to julieowen3 and if this doesn’t explain my reasoning and my love for humanity and my hate for organized religion and my reasoning for my disbelief in God, then I do not know what to tell you.YOUR IDEA THAT CHRISTIANITY IS THE ANSWER AND IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.. AND THAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS NOT A CHRISTIAN IS WRONG, is just about as screwed up as anything i have ever heard.the bible was written by man It is NOT the word of God….and yes i might not express myself to your liking, but you do not have the answers…you have a right to believe but not judge anyone…you are arrogant and I am not impressed.
Michelle Blankenship
Tommy,
I am VERY sorry for coming across as arrogant. Honestly, I wasn’t looking down on you at all. I am just as sinful as any other person out there. This is the problem with the written word – it is difficult to know what someone’s demeanor is, so I am very, very sorry for leading you to believe I think I’m better than you. I very much do not believe that. I hope you can accept my apology.
Since you mentioned it again, I do just want to reiterate that your statements like, “YOUR IDEA THAT CHRISTIANITY IS THE ANSWER AND IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.. AND THAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS NOT A CHRISTIAN IS WRONG, is just about as screwed up as anything i have ever heard.the bible was written by man It is NOT the word of God”, are faith statements. You cannot possibly *know* those things to be true (well, it’s true that men wrote God’s words down, but I believe they *are* God’s words). You only *believe* your statements to be true. I say that to show you that you and I are on the same page. In other words, we *both* believe what we believe by *faith*. So, if anything, my intent (although obviously I failed at it miserably) was to show you how *alike* we are because we both exercise faith, and that I am *not* above you.
Sorry for not articulating this better. I hope one day you will see that Christ is good because He was willing to suffer alongside you and me in this life when He didn’t have to. He could have just remained separate from us and never chosen to help us, and He would have been perfectly just to do so. But instead He chose to enter into this broken, hurting world and experience much greater suffering than any of us will ever know. For me, I like this God. He is good, and I don’t see any other god or philosophy that offers any hope.
But of course, you are free to believe what you will.
Irina
Hi Will Tommy Jones! I’ve read through your posts, even the long one with the lyrics of one of your songs 😉 and wow these are exact same questions I’ve been having some time ago. I mean they are statements to you, but at that time I wanted to find logical and scientifical proofs so everyone I knew would be convinced competely. I was born in Central Asia and at that time any kind of religion was forbidden, but still there were people who did believe in god (christians, muslims and buddhists).
So long story short, it took me like 15 years of research (sociology, psychology, philosophy, physics, astronomy, history, biology, and religion) and it was actually a fun yet difficult adventure. I cannot describe all these years and all the facts that I’ve learned and found. There were times when I was deeply disappointed with human nature, and some “christians” and others made me nauseous with what they did, and decided: I don’t care what others think, I don’t want to prove them anything, so at some point this research became the purpose of my own and personal understanding of God (which at that time I came to knowing existed, how ironic is that). So I studied God outside the human manifestations of religion, which I agree with you sometimes suck a big time especially those who do it for their own profit.
Long story short, my home country is now muslim, the country I’m working in right now (I’m a human resources professional) is orthodox christian. And it’s been about 4 years since I’m a believer and 2 years since I express it through protestantism. Knowing the real Truth without any hesitations and unanswered questions, having all the proofs is worth 15 years of research and is awesome. Looking on christianity through people and through God is 2 different things. Yes there are stupid and horrible people, but there is no stupid and horrible God. And just as we humans are all equally imperfect, He equally loves us despite those imperfections with unconditional love (although He does hate our sins which we consciously or unconsciously do for devil’s sake).
So Tommy, He loves you and wants you back since the times we left Eden by choice. And with due respect to your free will He won’t interfere and will just wait until you make an action and accept Him with your heart. And this is none of our business, but only yours and His.
p.s. good luck with your music career! i play the piano by the way, and recently learned to play one song on guitar lol it sounds aweful Hm chord is killing me.
Beautiful Feet
The challenge here is in seeing this scripture through God’s perspective and not what best benefits the argument we believe. When we look at scripture through the lens of proving people wrong, we disregard God. Scripture is first and foremost about who he is- a revelation of himself- not a revelation about “those people who say the Bible says this but they are wrong because look at these scriptures and circumstances”.
The purpose of reading scripture is to let God tell us who he is. If our purpose doesn’t line up with God’s and we use scripture like a Pharisee to one up each other with knowledge we are missing out on relationship with God.
Ali
This is a beautiful Blog, my friend shared it with me after a few rough weeks and was great to help me get perspective, Thank you for the reminder that the Christian life isn’t just a cake walk! Here is a little window to what God has taught me through heart ache! http://tayaradio.com/blog/index.php/grace/my-grace-is-sufficient/#more-3785
The Reg
Reblogged this on Warrior Poet and commented:
I had to reblog this because we’re thinking on the same wavelength. So grateful for her well-worded reminder that it is a comfort Jesus promised us suffering. But he also promised he would, one day, end it. Until then, let us persevere in faith, moving from glory to glory.
Zach
A wonderful plan doesn’t mean a wonderful life. The purpose of life is to make Christ famous, and to proclaim His glory. It means having faith in times of trouble and perseverance in times of persecution. Our lives now make a difference in eternity, and each day we live in faith could bring out one from the hands of the Evil One. God chose to use us for His purpose. With our lives. THIS side of eternity. We can’t change anyone’s life from Heaven. It may not always be a wonderful life, but IT IS a wonderful plan.
Jennifer
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)
Those are the words of Jesus. Let’s not confuse God’s work with the devil’s work.
Carol
28 And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. (emphasis mine) Sounds like a pretty “wonderful plan” to me!
minjrmitchell
Reblogged this on The Gift of Life and commented:
This is so true! Very good read…our reward/ultimate gift is in Heaven and not on Earth!
Dale
Through all of life, the questions, the misunderstandings, the hurts, the sin, the good, the sorrows, the joys, etc., I will always come to the wrong conclusion if I begin my thought process with a humanistic, man-centered viewpoint rather than seeing it through the lens of Who God is. A man-centered conclusion leads to despair. A God-centered conclusion produces rest, even in the midst of extreme sorrow. (Psalm 18:30; Isaiah 26:3-4; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 11:33-36; Philippians 4:6-8; Hebrews 11:6).
Mary Gardner Martin
I didn’t scroll through over 100 comments so maybe someone already hit this, but that line was added to the “Four Spiritual Laws” to start them out on an upbeat note before giving people the news that they are sinners bound for hell. It was meant to be part of a witnessing tool for the lost, not to stand on its own. And, yes, it was shaky theology but we thought we could add a fourth spiritual law to the three God gave us to make His news more palatable to the human race. It backfired, didn’t it?
Mary Gardner Martin
Reblogged this on iconobaptist and commented:
I love the comments below this one the best of all. She really got people thinking with this post. I posted a comment, which is about #150!!!
Heidi McCahan
Beautifully written. “God has a wonderful plan for your eternity”. So true and yet so easily forgotten. Merry Christmas.
Julie Chase
You write beautifully <3
Lenna Ruth
Sorry, sweetie, I have to disagree. God loves me, and He loved my son when He took him out of this life and into the next one. God is perfect, and He has a good plan for every believer’s life. Beautiful and wonderful are what HE says it is. His wisdom IS wisdom. And part of the wonder of His plan is that beauty and strength and wisdom and love and peace come out of hard things. Even destructive things. He CAN and does make beauty from ashes. That’s because He’s the Creator and when you let go of your picture and receive His version of what is good, it kind of turns everything upside-down and now I see things differently. (Or well, maybe I should say it turns right-side up what I have been looking at wrong.) To gain an eternal perspective, to see strength, grace and goodness in the humblest things, even in death and pain… that is a miracle and it transcends human understanding. He says, “I am with you always”. How could that be anything but good? But thank you for generating a compelling conversation, and God bless you in whatever pain has prompted it. Merry Christmas. 🙂
julianaalyssa
I do believe that God has a wonderful plan for each and every life and I will continue to tell people that. Not pithy, not in not knowing what else to say, but because I believe God is good and really does have a wonderful plan. Also, I know that He is good in the here and now, not only in Heaven. I don’t, however, believe that His will is automatically accomplished. There is that pesky fallen nature thing. The whole, ‘raining on the just and the unjust’ wrench in the whole system that is part of the wages of sin. Thankfully, God invented prayer. I happen to believe in prayer, in God and in happy endings and miracles. I also know there is pain, suffering and loss; unspeakable violence and sin against people that could never be deserved. But, I believe the words of James who talks about facing all sorts of trials that ultimately we would lack nothing as we persevere. I serve a God who swoops in to save the day, often. The one who saved mankind with a trip to hell. I believe all of our own personal hells, despite not being “God’s will” but the work of the enemy, still can be used for God’s good – if even to help others once we’ve come through the journey. I have lots of good plans too, probably because I am made in God’s image. So, I too am a dreamer. I come up with lots of schemes. They don’t all work out though. I sometimes have plans that I will take my children out to eat, that they will behave like super children, and we will get ice cream for dessert. Sometimes they behave like monsters. So, my plans fail and we don’t make it to ice cream. Once I had a plan to grow some vegetables, but a terrible storm came and destroyed my plan. The same is true of God’s creation. God has wonderful plans for each of us. Sometimes our own actions get in the way. Sometimes, its the actions of others. Sometimes, its just the wages of sin in the way of sickness that it brought into the world. But it doesn’t mean God didn’t have wonderful plans or cant turn things around or use every single thing for ultimate good. But He limited Himself to work through mankind. Its up to us to partner with God and pray that His will be done and to be conduits of His good on the earth. Seems rather simple, but that’s where im at right now because i refuse to believe that God doesn’t have an amazing, wonderful plan for each and every life. I just know him to be that good. It’s all pretty sunday school simple. God is good and the devil is bad and i dont want to switch that around and get myself and others all confused. Bad things happen, but it doesn’t mean God orchestrated it. As we follow Him, He ALWAYS manages to redeem it somehow. Sure, it isn’t easy or for the weak of heart. That death, hell and grave stuff was, um, hell, to get to the resurrection and right hand of God part. I think its the same model for us. Like a good movie, we can’t quit at the third act turning point when it looks like things are horrible. We have to continue to persevere in hope with true conviction that – despite anything and in everything – my God has a wonderful plan for my life.
Lauren
Thank you so much for writing this. I’ve often felt this way but have not known how to put it into words. I greatly appreciate your reminder that God is always good even when our lives decidedly are not.
julianaalyssa
oh, and I meant to put Jeremiah 29:11 – for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans not for harm, but to give you a hope and a future.
He gives us hope because it gives us strength as HE himself IS hope and reminding people of the Hope we have in Him should never, ever be looked down upon. there is a tension here, and of course ultimately we will get to heaven and and be in fullness of peace and joy, but there is also the very realness of His Kingdom here on earth and our ability to be a part of it by grace and through FAITH. I understand what you are trying to say, you are a good writer and do hit upon something, but there is perhaps a tension missing in your theology.
Clare
I am a young college student in the midst of finals, scrambling to catch up from missing the last week and a half of school because I had to go home and watch my dad pass away due to aggressive melanoma. My siblings and I are suddenly fatherless and my young mom is suddenly husbandless.
Yet I still firmly believe, even with this recent loss, that God has a wonderful plan for my life. Why do I think that? It’s not because, “Oh, life is great. I love losing my dad to cancer.” but because “wonderful plan” is not about my outside circumstances right now. There’s a way bigger purpose. And one, I believe, that we do not need to wait until heaven to see. It can be seen here on earth.
My purpose in life is not about externals– but rather internals. It is to be more like Christ (1 Cor 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21; Eph 4:22-24).
And guess what? Through our trials, God can mold us and conform us to look more like His Son (James 1:2-18).
Personally, I think there is no better “wonderful plan” than looking like my Savior. If that’s not a wonderful enough of a plan for our lives on this earth, then I don’t know what is.
Lauren R.
I would like to start by thanking the author for taking the time to thoughtfully and respectfully express her opinions on what is apparently a very tender subject for so many of us. As I read through the comments, I saw how strongly we all feel about these issues.
I also would appreciate the opportunity toshare my thoughts with you from the perspective of extreme loss in life. I lost a child and my husband within eight months of each other in 2001. I have endured the lion’s share of suffering with rare illness, grief, childhood abuse – and my experiences are no more or less valid than anyone else’s… they are simply mine… and that is the crucial element… because they are mine, I am responsible for relying upon God for the joy and satisfaction I perceive in my life.
As each of us move through life experiences, we make definitive choices as to how we respond to them. The crux of the matter is we must delineate our perception of a situation and the effect it has upon us from what God has for our lives. We do not think as God does. We do not have the benefit of past, present and future as an amalgamated past-tense. God does, however. He has already seen how it works out, he know the results.
He promises us in his word that he has made provision for us, (John 3:16, 14:6, and 15:5; Jeremiah 29:11-12).
He knows each of us intimately, having created with care and concern, (Psalm 139).
He has a plan for each of us, and that plan is meant for our benefit and growth in him, (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139, Book of John).
These are only a few examples… and while I will provide the references, I encourage each of you to read and study them for yourselves, in your own environment. I ask you to each pray that he will help you to find comfort int he very difficult things we all endure.
When my family died, I remember being very angry and wounded by it. Who wouldn’t be? That was a terrible experience to go through, and if I had allowed it, that time would have clouded my perception of what God had in store for me. I began to ask what good could possibly come from those losses – and I started to keep a journal of the good. That seems odd, but after 13 years, I have a 3 ring binder filled with the ways that God used those tragedies to a better benefit.
So, my point? I think that the author is correct that there are going to be experiences that are not happy in our lives as Christians. I think she also is correct to encourage each other to realize that belief and faith are not congruent to peaceful existence at all times.
My only supplement is that we take the moments that are so painful, and remember that God did not will them on us. They happened, and he waits for us to bring that suffering to him and accept his mercy, compassion, and support. If God did not have a wonderful plan for my life, I would not be here today.
Grace, peace, and mercy to each of you.
Don Cole
God did say, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28
Gordon
It is that last part which is important. The Greek is actually a little ambiguous and another accurate translation is:
‘that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good’
If you do not read Greek you can check that out in a Bible with the appropriate footnotes.
Bearing in mind the life which Paul had after becoming a Christian the alternative translation sounds to me more likely what he meant. God is not working for the personal benefit of those who love Him but working together with them for the general good.
Kristine McGuire
Oh this is very, very good. Excellent article. 🙂
Melissa
As in Heaven…so on earth…that was what Jesus strategically told us to pray. What is heaven like? He came that we would have life to the full. The devil is bad, God is good. There is a verse that addresses this heart issue…that I have been personally tested in…so I am speaking from experience. The devil steals, kills and destroys…BUT GOD came so that we could have life to the full. Its important to not forget there is a devil…who does HORRIFYING things…and would love nothing more than for us to accuse God by giving Him credit for these atrocities through “fine sounding arguments”. Just because bad things happen does not mean God does not have a GREAT plan for your life. (Rev. 2 “to him that overcomes”) Letting your hard experiences determine your theology can take you to dark places of hopelessness. Jesus is perfect theology…why did He die? LIFE TO THE FULL…nothin but good news in The Kingdom, otherwise, why bother?
Kenneth E Metzger
The Book Suffering and the Sovereignty Of God by Piper has this view of Christian suffering :
The authors assign five different and distinct reasons that suffering for the mature Christian is indeed God’s plan.
1,Suffering deepens our faith and holiness:
-building empathy and compassion
2. Suffering makes our cup increase:
-there are various levels of reward in heaven
3. Suffering is the price of emboldening others:
– my suffering & testimony of faithfulness in the midst of suffering
can and will encourage and embolden others
4. Suffering fills up what is lacking in others comprehension of Christ’s suffering :
– the cross was indeed sufficient yet modern man struggles to relate to the cross. They can however directly relate to my suffering and faithfulness in it
5. Suffering enforces the missionary command :
-when disobedience to God’s voice as spoken in His Word does not achieve God’s plan , suffering and affliction can take its place : Go! Make!
JB
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Gordon
This is often quoted by Christians but it is actually a specifc prophesy from Jeremiah to the Jews about returning to Judah from Babylon. If the whole chapter is read, it is not an unconditional promise by God, it requires repentance from paganism to worship of God by those concerned. The quoting of this one verse out of that context is somewhat misleading.
Gordon
This is an excellent article. It seems that many modern Christians just accept a few fluffy quotes deleivered to them rather than personally reading all of scripture. The Book of Job is a wonderful confrimation of this article:
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 1:21 ESV
Ali
The fact is, Jeremiah 29:11 was written when the Jews WERE suffering, banished in exile to a land possessed by their enemies. And that wonderful plan to prosper and not harm them was for 70 years in the future. God told them to settle in to this uncomfortable place, to make it their home, and that ultimately, he had a plan to bring them back to Judah. But, most of them would be dead for that plan, what with it being 70 years later. We have a knack for taking verses that were meant to speak of God’s broad plan for a group of people and individualizing them. In this case, very much out of context.
Sam
I like this article… it is a refreshing perspective but how do we know that there’s something wonderful waiting for us at all? Where is the assurance that eternity is wonderful? Perhaps eternity is more of this?
Shannon
God is good all the time and all the time God is good! He will make good what the enemy intends to harm us so that even when “trouble” comes as Jesus said it would, it will not destroy us because Jesus has already overcome it! When we are in Him and He is in us then no weapon in hell can prosper against us. Stop blaming God for things the enemy is doing.
Louis Woods
Crys from the heart by Ravi Zacaria
has a beatuful explanation for why bad things happen.
enough said
christina
Jeremiah 29:11
New Life Version (NLV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.
God’s wonderful plan for me…..Redemption!
Der Dachs
Not a popular message in this “it’s about me” society, which encompasses the world view of most Believers. I have been teaching this same thing for many years. It does not win you many friends. Thank you for posting.