Have you ever cried, "GOD....WHERE ARE YOU????"
54God said, "Let there BE LIFE!"
Sometimes, I just want to Go Home!
" And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28
Some things I believe God intentionally, literally "Puts on us", (for our own good and because, it's time), other things, I believe He just "allows" to happen, again, ultimately for our own good. I believe all of it, THE WHOLE LOT of experiences, processes, happenings... is leading those who have agreed to follow Christ, and ultimately all of mankind, to a place....of surrender and REAL understanding, (You can't REALLY understand true joy until you've experienced sorrow)... It's why we're here!!! It IS the reason that God chose to put our (HIS) Spirit in these bodies of fallible, mortal, unpredictable flesh...
It is the fullness of my understanding, (at this point, in this portion of my eternal life), ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES, ALL of the situations and circumstances in my life have brought me to the above conclusion as to why we're here... Or at least part of the reason and only as much of that reason as I am able to understand while looking through a glass darkly! Much to say on the subject but much of it I simply lack the ability to adequately put into words.
Honestly, I have undertaken writing this HUB because I am REALLY having a hard time right now...struggling...AGAIN! You'd think eventually, I'd overcome and find His grace sufficient!
The heart of this subject matter is far more of a Spiritual nature than that of intellect and worldly wisdom. Suffice to say, I am, still / again, going through one of the hardest periods of my life, (Often I just want to go home) but I WILL come through the other side again...more refined and CLOSER TO GOD! I LOVE HIM and always will.
To sum this up in a sentence or two ...ponder this...."Do you think He didn't know that we would eat of the ONE tree that he told us not to touch?"... No? Then, why did He put it there?... Therein lies the heart of why we're here, and "Why does God allow...(Enter struggle or hardship here)".
I know that I will , prayerfully soon, be writing, speaking, posting happy, joyous triumphant words again, bare with me. In the meanwhile, as is the case with a HUGE number of people right now, I need to remember how to get to the secret place, where it's just me... and my Father. I know that outside of this little expanse of time, I am already doing victorious back flips in the sand.... As God knew I would from the foundations of the earth. I would however NOT BE victorious nor even remotely aware of the Joy....had I NOT BEEN....HERE!
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I couldn't have said it better, Roger. It is the truth.
As always my best friend... you write powerful Father-Son-Spirit-speak.
Thank you all... It takes "Living" to understand "Life"! Yet, no matter the amount of wisdom, our level of intelect and knowledge, we still "see through a glass darkly", can't wait for the moment when we shal "KNOW FULLY, EVEN AS WE ARE FULLY KNOWN!" But again, that would not be such a great thing at all, had we NOT BEEN HERE!!! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus...
"...."Do you think He didn't know that we would eat of the ONE tree that he told us not to touch?"... No? Then, why did He put it there?... Therein lies the heart of why we're here, and "Why does God allow...(Enter struggle or hardship here)." - Roger Crigger
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Indeed, my friend, the Almighty placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden, not to tempt Adam and Eve into sinning, but because He had to.
In order for us to exercise free-will and in order for us to be able to exercise free-choice, we had to be able to make a conscious decision to obey or disobey. In both cases we shall reap the crop we sow.
If the tree was never placed in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve could never have made the choice between living Godly lives in humble obedience or living their lives in disobedience.
Our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He gives us the choice to live or die. He will not force us to love Him, nor will He force us to follow Him nor will He force us to spend eternity with Him in Paradise - it's our choice.
Having said that, there are always consequences, both good and bad, that manifest themselves in our lives based upon the choices we make each and every day. Some of the choices that bring about negative consequences may not have anything to do with Godly obedience or disobedience, but can be the by-product of poor judgment and foolishness.
It is also important to know, Roger, that life on Earth was never meant to be Heaven on Earth. This is the Great Proving Grounds - a place where tests, tribulations, and trials are rendered on a daily basis so that we can prove our mettel, and above all, become broken enough to see our sin and thusly seek Our Heavenly Father and Christ Jesus our Lord in our weakness.
I hope you are doing much better now, Roger, and please know that I do not expect you to be "Johny Sunshine" - I just want you as you are: honest, humble, faithful, and sincere.
Best wishes to you and yours - C.J. Sledgehammer
Amen C.J. That's a truth that I came to years ago... You put it very well...still going thru the fire right now....But I WILL GET THERE!!!!!
Talk to me Roger...how can I help?
Feel free to shoot me off an e-mail if you would like. My door is always open to you. :0)
It's massive pain in my body...Pretty much everywhere. Started out in my chest wall, (Rib Cage), it was diagnosed as Plurisy a couple of times but then one day, about 12 years ago...IT NEVER WENT AWAY!...PAIN! Then about 3 years ago, my WHOLE BODY started to hurt, stiffen up, foggy head from years of pain and stress etc... (I guess)I have no insurance, and have been on pain meds for 12 years which no longer work very well and no dr. will see me, (because I am a pain patient). So....? I pray and pray and just try to keep on keeping on. I had to even quit as worship leader 3 or 4 years ago because I couldn't play guitar and sing anymore due to pain. So... I come and go with almost feeling human and feeling so bad that I can barely function and it's been sooooo long like this that my nervous system is getting weird. The thing that gets to me the worst is how it has affected my ability to get OUT IN THE FIELD AND SERVE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a function....a job if you will, I am Spiritually called, I know I am, (No pride intended and all false humility aside), I feel like I've been taken out of the war and my faith is waining at times. Now Faith in God, or His ability to heal and deliver, I see Him do it all the time. But my faith that I personally will ever be in the place to be consistant... It has been a very confusing battle of late. I HURT?
Then allow me to commit you to prayer, Roger, and with your approval, I will pass your name along to some other prayer warriors as well.
If you are under attack from the spiritual realm, let us see if you can be delivered from these chains that bind you...in Christ Jesus' name.
May our Heavenly Father wrap His loving arms around you like a warm blanket, and place a hedge of protection around you and yours in Jesus' name. Amen.
I so welcome that my friend. And it is a Spiritual attack! God has used me many times in my 18 year walk with Him and I've always been very grateful. Some of the Deliverances and healings have been so profound that when all was said and done, I would have to pull over and just cry like a baby for being used by the CREATOR of ALL THINGS! Very humbling....yet very fulfilling feelings to be used of God..To see people delivered from tormenting spirits right in front of my eyes. To see people healed in the mighty name of Jesus. (I could write a book!) Many people don't believe me when I testify to some of the things God has lead me into, but that's fine, I don't expect them to. The people who were healed and delivered and SAVED....THEY BELIEVE! Then to slowly have the life sucked out of me.? God is allowing it, (It's been soooo long and hard?) but, I do not believe that I am going to end like this. I will NEVER stop praying for deliverance... though sometimes it's difficult to even utter "Help"...and, I will NEVER stop believing that God is Good, true and JUST! Even if I don't understand it.
Please do Pray...I am believing that this lonnnnng season is preparing me for something, (and in fact has accomplished much already as it is. I am far more compassionate than I ever would have been and I believe I am much more humbloe than I used to be, (Much much more than before I came to know Jesus). I will end by saying that I AM confused...frustrated... and crying as I type.
Yet...God is good. I need to be in His lap...I need to learn how to recieve HIS love....for ME! Moreover...I NEED TO BE HEALED! It's going to take a full out miracle.
Thank you CJ
Be still and know that He is God.
Help is on the way.
Thank you... I believe it!
Yes, Roger, I have cried,"God where are you?" I have yelled at him, screamed at Him, told Him to take me off this planet rather than feel the hurts of others. Never forget God is faithful to His word. You have every right to open your Bible, put your finger on a verse and say to God, "God you said it! Now I CLAIM it!" I have added you to my prayer list, and I KNOW that I KNOW He will help you. Blessings, Sparklea :)
Sparklea... I feel better today than I have for at least a year!!! Praise God. The enemy of our souls has hit me with pain over and over again...he's using an easy open in that I spent the first 30 years of my life breaking bones, (motorcycles, car wrecks etc...) You wouldn't believe the amount of injuries and breaks I've had, (I should be dead, but God isn't through with me. Anyway, thank you for the prayers! Please, also, whenever the Spirit leads I would welcome continued prayers...Thank you Sparklea,
Roger
Claudette 3 months ago
I completely agree. When we go home to heaven, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4... If it wasn't for this world, for experience, and life in general, we would not be aware of pain and peace, joy and sorrow. It is nice that God allows us to endure hardship because He knows we will feel a great joy afterward. Not only that, He has promised us the victory and assured us that everything is for good. After all, He has our best interest in mind.