Choose Trust

heard from a friend who is finding it hard to see friends battling horrible illness.  He has questions about it all.  I imagine most of us can identify with him.  I have a multitude of questions.  I have a mental list of those questions that I hope to talk to the Lord about some day.

And yet, in the here and now, we have to choose trust.  We have to trust in God's goodness even when we see the suffering around us.  He WARNED us!!  "In this world you will have tribulation."  John 16:33  But He also says, "Take heart!  I have overcome the world."

It's not wrong to have questions.....and we can talk to the Lord about them.  But we can't allow those questions to cause us to take up an offense against God.  We have to hold tight to His mighty hand and keep our eyes on Him.  We don't understand things that happen.  But we have to remember that we live in a fallen world, and there will be pain and suffering.  Trust in our wonderful Father is the only thing that will carry us through.

I've had lots of conversations with the Lord about what happened to Floyd.  I don't understand any of it.  But in the midst of that painful season, I saw God at work.  I knew His goodness and faithfulness in so many ways.  I was carried by Him daily.  My heart was comforted in the sadness of it.  There was sufficient grace for each thing I faced - and abundant wisdom for the many decisions I faced......even as I battled cancer and went through repeated treatment myself.  God was there!  All the time!

"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  Psalm 34:28

"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:39

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."  1 Chronicles 16:11

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4

I look forward to that day!  And I have a feeling that my questions will no longer be important when I stand in His presence!