For example, God sometimes has to discipline us in ways which can seem quite harsh to us - but when you strip away the outer layers you discover that what's really at the center of it is love. It says in Hebrews 12.6 that "the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." A parent may have to smack a child if it's about to do something really dangerous, like put it's hand in an open fire - the child may never have known that they would have been harmed by what they were going to do, and they may be so shocked from the smack that they just cry - but ultimately it would have been a smack of love, not hate.
Sometimes it's easy to recognise something as 'discipline' from God.... and therefore logically we can recognise it as His hand of love..... but sometimes it's not so easy. Sometimes we experience and go through things which we can all too easily blame on the enemy, or on others, and forget that ultimately God is Sovereign and has the overall say in what we are permitted to endure. He knows how it can shape us for ultimate good.... He can see the tenderness in the midst of it..... even when to us, it may look like evil. I guess the question is how do we respond? Do we argue with God about it? Do we pray against it? Do we submit to it? If i'm honest, i don't know. I guess it depends on the exact situation.
Personally i am experiencing something quite strange at the moment. Too strange for me to fully explain on here. Sometimes it looks to me a little like insanity. Sometimes i think its just tenderness. I don't know if i should graciously accept it. Or wage war on it. But what i do know is that for whatever reason God sees fit, He is allowing me to go through it. And so, although i can't see how, my hearts cry is that this will draw me ever closer to Him and serve to ultimately glorify His name.
No comments:
Post a Comment