I Know That I Know That I Know – Part II

“There are so many things I won’t understand on this side of heaven. I just won’t. There are some things that we will never understand. We just have to trust that God has a plan and that He is working it out for our good. Even if that good isn’t felt in the moment.” (Mindy Sauer)

Last time we were together we were talking about how choosing God’s way versus choosing our own way helps to answer the question of why God allows bad things to happen to good people…especially to little kids?  The sin of this world was not God’s original plan.  However, since man chose to allow it to enter through our free will and choosing the wrong path, God then spent the history of mankind showing us the only way to eternal life with Him which is through accepting His Son as the payment for our sins.  However, because of the love God has for us, He doesn’t force Himself on us.  He instead offers us the choice, until we take our final breath, wanting us to choose Him.

While we may not understand all that happens in this life, the bad is a result of sin, not part of God’s original plan.  If God’s master plan was for evil, then evil would exist in Heaven.  Instead, evil is part of Satan’s master plan, to turn people away from God by having them depend upon themselves or others instead of trusting in Jesus Christ as the only way.

It’s not our job to understand why bad things happen.  It’s not our job to try and actively avoid bad things from happening.  It’s our job to trust in our Heavenly Father and His plan when bad things happen, not knowing how but knowing that eventually He will win.  Sometimes that triumph occurs as in the case of the Sauer family.  Their son, Ben, was healed by God lovingly bringing him to Heaven sooner than his family members would’ve wanted.  Other times the healing takes place here on Earth.  However, while we aren’t in charge of how the grace will look, it is our job to trust that our Heavenly Father knows what’s best and has it under control.  It’s a much more peaceful journey when we keep our focus on the fact that for every child of God, this life is temporary and we will be reunited with our loved ones who also have a relationship with God, forever in Heaven, where death, disease, sickness, trials, and sin will be nonexistent.

There is still pain…sadness…anger….grief.  However, for the life of a believer, those emotions are overridden with hope.  Even though our hearts may ache when we’re going through difficulties or when we’re empathetic with others who are hurting, we have hope knowing the pain is temporary.  We know that one day it will all be over and be replaced with joy.  Until then, sometimes when there seems to be no answers as to “why,” all we can do is cling to the knowledge that we can trust God.  He’s in control, He knows what He’s doing, and even though we will never see the big picture, He does.  He knew what we would face before we were even born and He promised we would never have to face the difficulties by ourselves.

I find, for myself, that Truth cements itself into my life deeper when I’ve experienced the pain versus watched from the sidelines someone else’s pain.  It is then, when I’ve crossed over to the other side, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can trust God and He extends His grace to all His children, without showing favoritism.  And it is only then that I can say with confidence, even when I can’t see the answers, “I know that I know that I know” that God has it under control. And even if I’m saying it with tears streaming down my face, it’s the most peaceful place to be – inside His strong arms.

© Cheri Swalwell 2014