The Nerve
“Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” (I Peter 4:12)
I been rereading the book God On Mute by Pete Greig this past week, and have gotten some really good thoughts from it. He says, “Perhaps we should accept what older people and poorer people and many of those with disabilities already know: Things are probably going to be very difficult today and just as hard tomorrow, too.” He goes on a few pages later to share, “I’m not suggesting that we should pray for hard times but rather that when such times come, we should feel a little less outrage and a lot more hope because Jesus, who went through similar struggles, predicted that we would have them and promised to be with us in the midst of them.”
I must admit, I’ve been doing a lot of ragging lately. I rage and rage and rage, all the while knowing the truthfulness behind the verse above. Life is tough. When were we ever promised that it would be easy? Why then do we act surprised, even betrayed when something difficult occurs? Why do we act put off, angry even at God? I know His infinite goodness, something far beyond my comprehension. I know He loves me, and yet so often that is hard for me to fully trust. That’s not His fault, but mine. God has done nothing to make me doubt His goodness and love for me. I project the fallenness of mankind onto God, in much the same way that I’m guessing we all do.
How silly a thing to do; treat God as if He were even close to the humans we encounter. I rage and rant and piss and moan, but only when I take a moment to quiet down, and soften my heart, do I have the opportunity to hear God whispering. This is not always the case; I do not always hear God. But I’ve yet to experience Him shouting over my voice to get my attention. (I take that back, I did once, recently while running Comrades Marathon. My emotions were getting the best of me and I started freaking, and felt God get my attention much like I would with one of my own kids. The purpose being to get me to stop focusing on the here and now, and focus on Him for a moment)
The past few days, I’ve taken time here and there to quietly ask God some questions, and wait patiently for a response. And He’s answered. Not always a direct response to the questions I asked, but He’s always said something appropriate to me. And you know what, I’m beginnin to trust Him more. I think we’d all be much better off if we took a moment to quietly speak and listen with God. Slow down. See what He has to say. It just might sweep you off your feet into an adventure you never saw coming!