July 11, 2008
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“Not that I am in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him…What reason have we, except our own desperate wishes, to believe that God is, by any standard we can conceive, ‘good’?” C. S. Lewis
I find it strange that C. S. Lewis struggled with this. I have been struggling with it too…when one is persecuted by Christians (or those you thought to be your brethren in Christ…), there is so much injustice involved that it makes you question so many things. Not to worry, I do still believe that God is good…but it’s taken me a while to get back here…to the place where I can believe that. God himself had to show me all over again, that he is still good, loving, and HERE.
“Some say that everything happens for a reason. That everything that happens is God’s will. I don’t believe that. God never intended for evil desires and acts to run rampant on the earth. But I do believe that he will use even evil things for our good if we trust Him.”
That’s the conclusion I came to. God allows things. He can even make something beautiful out of us through it…but there are some things that happen that are just too awful for them to be planned by God.
Life is hard, but God is TENDERHEARTED. Life is hard, but God is WISE. Life is hard, but God is FAITHFUL…and so on…he is PRESENT, and yes, he is GOOD.
“This is a long valley. People will give you weeks or months, to ‘recover’. Give yourself a year at least. Maybe two. This is a wound God will help you manage. And you will occasionally bleed from it all your life, especially when you hear someone else’s hard news. It will open that scar again–not to drag you back, but to move you to care for them.”
Yes. It’s true.
“Sometimes the pilot of a ship can use a storm to make headway, instead of being wrecked by it.”
So it all depends on how you look at it…the choises you make…the road you choose…whether the one most traveled…or the hard road back to recovery…and actually LIVING without your loved ones…
“What is meant to be is such a mystery…And mysteries are not meant to understand…The hardest part of love has got to be…Leaving it in bigger hands…(this one made me think of you, Leeny=)
Michael, can you tell I’ve been reading and re-reading that book? I think it’s what I needed exactly when I needed it…thank you so much for that gift…it has blessed my family…brought tears…healing…and release..
“If I can stop one heart from breaking…I shall not live in vain…If I can ease one life the aching…or cool one pain…or help one fainting Robin…unto his next again…I shall not live in vain.” –Emily Dickinson
So this is for those of you who hurt…I’m sorry you are going through this dark valley…we’ll make it through…with God…
I love you,
~Beth
Comments (24)
I am so sorry that you are going through all this. But one thing is certain, if we all cling to God through the hard times he will be with us every step of the way. And we will come through out trials stronger. (I’m not trying to preach a sermon. Lol) Just know that I love you all And your in my prayers.
<L.D.S.>
What can I say.. once again I’m soo sorry that you guys had to go through all of this.. and I wish it never woulda happened.. but as you said God allows things.. I love you soo much and I’m praying.. kris~
Very good. Thanks! Love you all. LM
What can I say, dear Beth? Your beautiful heart came out… again! My heart beats with yours. I love you… your sis.
But yours is expressed so much better … more profound or something. I see Him healing you when that would seem impossible to the human mind. That is God- capable of far more than my puny mind can grasp. Aren’t you glad you are safe in His hands?
I’m loving your post…very good…especially to me the “leaving it in bigger hands…”…sighs…
I feel your pain….and know what you say is the absolute truth…No matter what God brings into our life…in the end…all that matters…is that He gets the glory..its not about us at all….that’s kinda overwhelming to me….and powerful…..luv u grl…
Amen….thank you!
I know what you mean about the turmoil that can come when other Christians persecute you; but Jesus got the same treatment from the ‘Christians; of His day, and He’s been there.
It’s amazing, wonderful, and hard for me to release the hurts and valley experiences into God’s hands; but His hands are ever so skilled, working every minute detail into a stunning completion of Christ’s work. I read a good quote by Elisabeth Elliot-nothing happens to us that isn’t for us.
I agree with you-the hardest part of love is leaving the love in bigger hands. I’m finding that out right now, by God’s grace.
I’ll be praying for you. Keep on keeping on!
-Bethany
Hey!thanx for the comment an friend invite! you should like come visit sometime! Totally appreciate your post.. I dont really know what your goin thru.. but i do gather persecution from other Christians.. That I know is a very hard thing to let go… but as you said,God is good an He is ever present an faithful.. stay strong with Him… peace..
Hey Beth, good post. How have you been?
laticia
I loved you saying “God can make something beautiful out of us through it” I too believe that not everything that happens is God’s will.(some things are just to incredibly awful) Isn’t it amazing though at the beauty that can rise from the ashes? And how in the end we realize God is good, and our trust in him is stronger then it was before. (Or so I’ve found from personal experience.) Loved the post. It was an awesome reminder.
Lol thankx I was crazy that day!
Hey Beth havent talked to you in a long time:)..lol..I just thot I would say hi and that I miss you like crazy!:(…well ill ttyl..bye..
O we had a BLAST!!!! You shoulda been there!:)
Hey beth thnx for the commen!! wow u sure know how to bring tears to someone’s eyes with wat u said up top, it was really good to hear it, thank you for posting : ). So wen r u planning on coming in here???!!!!! u live like 6 hrs away and we saw u more wen u lived in honduras…….almost!! I guess we could come out there but dont know how to get there……so thts kind of a prob. But HOPEFULLY we’ll see u soon. Well gata run LUV YOU!!! Jen
Yea I love that quote! oh an when we get back from Honduras I might be taking some new friends to their very FIRST soccer game, and a Crew game at that!!:) ha
Wow, what a really good post. I’m so terribly sorry you have to go through this nightmare. It hurts, it really hurts. (Ouch Charlie) I’m glad the book helped in some small way, I sure have found so much meaning in it. I miss you guys.
@Michael - Thanks Michael…the “Ouch Charlie” made me wanna cry…I can actually hear your voice saying it!! Thanks again for the book…=) Miss you…
Beth
hey you gotta check out the new profile pic before ruby deletes it!!
Hey Bethy!!
Do you know what I just realized?? I am going to see you guys like NEXT week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=) I can’t wait!!=)
So hows it going?? Ok, well see ya soon.. Te amo mucho..
Yea, I’m not even sure why I put them on cuz they made me miss everybody even worse then I already did.. or do.. and the memories.. Wow, the memories.. I was laughing one minute and crying the next..=( =) but such is life I guess.. But there is one teeny tiny bright spot in my life right now!!?? know what it is??!! I get to see you next weekend=) haha.. I love you, girl and I seriously can’t wait!!!!
Oh, and by the way, have a blast with Lamar, Adam and Cindy this weekend..=) you now what I just remembered?? ok, should I admit this?? haha.. probably not but I’m going to anyways=) Ok, you know that pic of you that I was supposed to give to Cindy?? well I have’nt seen her yet since you sent them to me so I finally decided that I’m going to just put it in their mailbox at church.. so she probably hasn’t gotten it yet.. haha, sorry!!
Ok, well this thing is more like a message then a comment=) so I better go.. Te amo, kris~
I’m quaking in my boots!!! LOL! I know I’m dead! She’ll delete it asap I’m sure!
Hey how are you guys doing? Just thought I would drop you a comment.
Love ya,
♥_Laticia_♥