Life is Hard!

I am a strong believer that God uses everything that happens in life to teach us something about Himself if we will just listen to His Spirit and allow Him to instruct us. Then I search God’s Word to see what God has specifically said regarding what the Spirit has impressed upon my mind.

I am a pen turner and I love to work at my lathe. I have learned many things about life as I work at my lathe. Each step of the process in turning a piece of wood or antler into a pen is painful to the material with which I am working. The process includes cutting, drilling, shaping, sanding, polishing, friction, and pressure. But when the process is complete the material has been transformed; it has new beauty, value, and purpose. Something of little value now has greater value, all because it endured a painful process! Life is full of difficulties and it easy to become overwhelmed. But there is a purpose behind each hardship; they are all part of a process to shape and mold us into some of greater value and purpose. My desire in writing this blog is to encourage and maybe stir up some conversation with the lessons that God has been teaching me through the painful process of life. Life is hard, but God is good. May He continue working His process in my life.

If you are going to read any of my posts be sure to ready "Introduction to Lessons from the Lathe". In that post I lay out the basis for all the other blogs.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Thinkg about 9/11

I can't believe that Sunday is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. I can still remember being called into the chapel at RBC and watching as the events took place right before our eyes on the television screen. I remember our crying out to God in fear, in anger, and in uncertainty. Why?! How could anyone do this to innocent people, how could this happen in the USA, how can a good God allow such a tragedy? It all seemed so senseless.

I don't want to dwell on everything that has occurred over the past 10 years. A lot of hearts have been broken and continue to break as a result of this event. This event has caused a lot of anger and division, as we continue to seek to assign blame. But I think that a lot of good has also come as a result as well.

Do I truly believe Romans 8:28? If so how does that impact my perception of 9/11? As I think back on that day and all that has transpired as a result: do I see it as a violent attack by radical extremists; a tragic event that happened to innocent victims; or do I see it as an act of a loving God, who in His wisdom was working to bring about ultimate good? My answer - yes. It was a violent act, it was a tragedy, but behind the acts of man there is a sovereign God. Sometimes it is hard to wrap my mind around that fact.

God's thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways. I may not understand all that He is working to accomplish but I chose, by faith, to trust Him. God is always faithful to His word. He never breaks a promise. When He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you," He meant it. And when He says that He works all things together for good; He means all things, even those things that seem tragic. God will use health issues, financial crisis, unemployment, and any other "bad" thing to bring about His desired result in His creation. I take great comfort in that fact, I find security in God's sovereignty, and I find the courage to face one more "tragedy" because I know behind it all a Sovereign God is at work.

God is good.

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