October 25th, 2018
A teacup.
Melissa's favorite teacup from Scotland...the one with the thistles on it.
That was what set my emotions rolling last night as we moved back into our house and were cleaning things up.
It wasn't the teacup itself as much as the memories of it. Melissa bought it as a souvenir to have as a practical, everyday reminder of our nice visit to Scotland to visit family. She used it everyday.
I've been reading some different things on God and comfort. One of the readings I was going through this morning referenced Isaiah 40. This is a pretty famous chapter which talks about being lifted up on "wings as eagles." You've probably seen it. But this time is was something else in the chapter that caught my attention, verses 28 and 29:
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Why do I question God? I know it is ok to ask Him "Why?" but how do I justify myself before Him? He is everlasting, tireless, all knowing, all powerful. And, check this out: He cares about me (and you by the way).
Why?
That's the perfect circumstance to ask Him "Why?" Why does He care about ME? That's a miracle in itself isn't it?
I know, maybe you're thinking, "I'm not even sure God exists, let alone cares about me."
You're not the first person to think that. People have been wrestling with that for as long as there have been people. So, why do we wrestle with that? Isn't the fact that we even have that thought, "Does God exist?" demonstrate evidence that He does?
Not to get all crazy philosophical or anything. My point is just to allow me, and you, the opportunity to wrestle with it.
If God doesn't exist, then all this is in vain. I mean really, all of it.
If He does exist, or if you even have the thought that He might exist, then the question becomes, "What do I do about Him?"
For the follower of Christ, the bible offers many promises of hope. Here's some hope written by the Apostle Paul to the followers of Christ in Corinth, II Corinthians 1:3-5:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Many people have lauded me for my faith through this greatest of trials. Let me assure you, my faith is small. As a matter of fact, I keep praying for God to give me faith. I can't muster up faith. It is a gift from God. And I'm no biblical scholar, by the way. Most of the things I have come across and verses I have quoted were passed along by others. That's the way it works doesn't it? Just like in the verses above, "that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." That's why I'm writing this down to share with you.
I often think of a story of one of Jesus's miracles recorded in the gospel of Mark. A father was asking Jesus to heal his son and Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief."
I'm like that man. This story shows that God wants us to: a) be honest with Him and b) ask for His help to believe. Faith is moving forward in that belief. Taking a step. Trusting and obeying.
Today, I'm trusting God for the comfort that He promises many places in the bible.
How about you?
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