Perhaps a better word: disillusioned.
It is easy to get cynical or disillusioned living in today’s world.
It tears at our heart strings when we read of children suffering from the effects of cancer. I’ve been in enough hospitals and seen enough of that to last the rest of my life. Trust me. Trips to Riley Children’s Hospital were not and are not on my “highlight” reel.
I feel for parents whose children are the ones suffering. Honestly? I don’t know what to say so I often say nothing except “I love you” and stand with them (most-often silently).
Recent events which I wrote about tear at anyone. My brother in PA read on the internet about their death.
One of our worship leaders has just spent most of his time with his family in Nashville, TN the past 3-4 months. His mother-in-law battled liver cancer and Monday went home.
Living in a fallen world brings the expectation of death. None miss out. The “odds” are 1 out of 1. But what makes it easy to be cynical or disillusioned is people have been praying for her from all across the country. We have been I know. It isn’t Peter and Stephanie though who are questioning. It will be those who are looking for a reason to doubt. A reason to blame God or to say He isn’t powerful enough to heal. Or “See, He doesn’t answer prayer!”
Well, not always does He answer according to our desires or whim. At times I wish He did. But then sometimes I am soooooo glad He did not. It isn’t easy being joyful in times of hurt. But joy is not determined by our circumstances. Happiness is; joy is not. I’d like to direct you to my friend, Eileen’s blog here for a great perspective.
Any thoughts?
From my perspective, God is a tough one to figure out at times. But I am slowly learning to get used to it.
He will always be hard to figure out. I think it is supposed to be that way. 🙂
I spent way too much time in life being cynical. It’s something I have to fight every day.
It is worth fighting.
Thanks for sharing the link to my post, Bill. I tend to do a lot of thinking about the “unfairness” of life and the only way I can wrap my heart and brain around it is looking back over the journey and seeing how God has redeemed the pain in my own life. With so many things, I have no other place to turn for an answer and I’ve learned to rest in knowledge that HE REDEEMS. I know this for certain and am comforted by this. It takes away my need to have all the answers. My job is to trust…I’m not saying that’s easy but I do know He can provide me with much needed peace despite all my questions.
You’re welcome Eileen. You’ve written some really good posts lately. You are right about our place being one of trust.
My thoughts… Faith is so tough sometimes. We won’t need it one day though, you know. We’ll have sight to replace it. Right now, it’s fueled by the hope of the Gospel. Love is tough sometimes too, but we’ll always have that. Simple, maybe. Easy, definitely not.
So true Kari. Always need to keep in mind faith is and always will be tough. Thanks for the good reminder.
Life will constantly disappoint us if we insist on having things “our way”. Deepdown joy comes with being about to say, “Lord, Your will, not mine.” Thanks for the link to Eileen’s post. Enjoyed it very much.
Oops! Deepdown joy comes with being able to say, (not “about” to say), “Lord, Your will, not mine.”
🙂 on both the mistake and the comment Pam. Learning to have things “His way” is the secret.
God has been faithful and speaking to us every step of the way through the loss of my mother-in-law. His spirit was letting us know that he was with us through hard and trying times- even giving us impressions of what was coming. Rather than being disillusioned, our faith is stronger.
I love hearing testimonies like this Peter. i can’t wait to spend some time with you guys and learn from you. You know we love you.
Eileen’s blog was just delivered by The Lord, via you! At a time I needed it most.
Cycle Guy is my Pastor and good friend. I touched on your site by touching on his. You had me at the Red Bench and ocean. What you’ve said in this post resonates with me. I feel from all that I’ve been through, I just have to find joy in everything I do and bring joy to everyone I know. I still don’t understand one of the events. The others were very tough to plow but I have seen the rainbow on the other side. Some days I hurt for others so much, I take on their pain to no avail. I try to remind myself, they will see the rainbow if they hang in there with The Lord. I am in a sad situation with my brother now, a strong man whose health and mind are now failing. I hope I am bringing joy and hope to him through The Lord. Bill once asked what we were afraid of. I have been through all my worst nightmares and survived, there is nothing to fear if you are with The Lord. Bless you for this blog and God’s guiding hand bringing it to me at the right time. I love, love, love 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) also! I could sing it every Sunday…Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday….
Thanks Nancy for calling me your pastor and good friend. I know there are some things we will NEVER understand as long as we are on this earth. I do believe you are doing for your brother all you are able to do. We can pray for God’s intervention. We can sing that song together. Good thing God doesn’t care what it sounds like. 😉
Bill, this was the lesson the Lord taught me in such a powerful way last year. I will be blogging about it later this year, but I will say here that without even realizing it, I had believed the enemy’s lie that God wasn’t good.
In my case, God had to answer a number of prayers in a miraculous and dramatic way. Of course, I don’t know why He doesn’t do that with all of us all of the time, but He doesn’t. I have repented of my cynicism and as a result have so. much. joy. Thanks for bringing us thought-provoking content.
Thanks for weighing in on this Melanie, especially from your own personal experience. Nothing “hears” better than someone who has gone through the fire. On your comment: it is a wonder why He doesn’t answer all the same. But then again, it would be so boring knowing the answer before we asked the question. thanks for coming by.
It is all too easy, just reading any day’s headlines, to become cynical and disillusioned. My faith, knowing God is in all things though now we see only through a mirror darkly, is all-important to me, especially in the hardest of times. Believing that all will be well in the end gives me inner joy and peace.
Blessings, Bill!
Knowing there is something we can’t know and definitely can’t always see should “drive” us to Him. Joy comes from believing as you say. Thanks.
I normally just remind people in those mournful circumstances that I love them – and although I may not know what it feels like to go through what they’re going through, God does. And he loves them even more than anyone can comprehend.
Best approach to take Loren. just be with them and stand with them.
That’s a minefield for sure, Bill. 🙂 We do need to ask these tough questions though and we need to be suspicious of easy answers that only falsely comfort. He is truth and life and goodness, and though we may not understand at this moment, He does desire to reveal Himself. Thanks Bill.
I agree Jason. Some are afraid to ask the tough questions for fear God will get upset or mete out even more “unfair” treatment. But we serve a God who loves us and does desire to reveal Himself to us. thanks for taking time to comment (especially since you are single-parenting these days).