Welcome to Hank’s Place –
If you watch any news, you know it is filled with tragedies in which the survivors are demanding answers, asking, “Why?” “How?” As if knowing the why’s or how’s would give closure to their pain.
Dear friend, this premise is simply — wrong. Even answers with a theological bent don’t ease the pain. I found an article by Pastor Tim Brown in the Enduring Word for January.
He addressed some common explanations given:
– We live in fallen bodies in a fallen world where the curse is not yet lifted. So what? Why, out of all possible people, was it my loved one the curse claimed? I live in a fallen body in a fallen world; why didn’t I die instead?
– Or my loved one made a bad decision. Others make worse decisions, and they live.
– Or someone else made a bad decision that resulted in my loved one’s death. This doesn’t bring me relief; it only increases my bitterness.
– Or being in the wrong place at the wrong time? In God’s providence, He could have protected my loved one, right?
Again, here’s the premise – that if I know the reason, I can better live with the result; knowing the reason will bring some measure of relief. The premise of the premise is peace through knowledge. No.
Peace doesn’t come through reasoning, knowing, the study of God and the Scriptures. It comes through a relationship with God. We want answers, but God offers us Himself. A satisfied intellect can never fill the emptiness of the soul. A satisfied intellect can never heal the pain of a soul. Our greatest challenge isn’t unanswered questions but empty souls. When I’m seeking reasons, God desires to give me revelation. When I’m thrashing around for answers, God is calling me to abide. My greatest need is not answers. My greatest need is His presence.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you.” Clearly, it is His presence that gives peace to our souls.
Pastor Tom writes, “The older I get in Christ, the less I know, yet deeper is the peace I experience…. Where I once sought satisfaction in answers and reason, my soul is now content with Presence.… His Presence sanctifies the tears of the soul and brings rest to the weary mind. Jesus cried out, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus didn’t promise answers; He promised rest.”
I don’t know why some things in our lives have unfolded the way they have. We could have great grief and bitterness if we allowed these things any authority in our lives, but our souls can be satisfied in Christ. Even with ongoing pain, Jesus Christ can satisfy our soul.
Dear friend, let’s allow our soul’s to be satisfied with Christ in 2024. We’ll COME ALIVE!
Note: the full article can be found at The Post: https://post.enduringword.com/
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