By Barbara Dahlgren
One More Year of Choices
Some of us are willing to admit that every bad situation is not God’s fault. Sometimes we make poor choices. Sometimes we suffer because of the poor choices of others. And sometimes it’s just time and chance. (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
However, many still want to blame God for what He allows to happen. After all, can’t God control everything? Can’t He keep us from screwing up? Can’t He keep someone from screwing us over? Can’t He shield us from every trial of life? Sure He can – but He doesn’t.
Ironically, those people who want to blame God when things go wrong usually aren’t thanking Him when things go right. We like to take the credit, but we like to give God the blame.
Unfortunately, bad stuff happens. We have all experienced things like financial setbacks, the unexpected death of a loved one, severe health problems, a bad marriage, job loss, drug addiction, and so on. Sometimes God intervenes and sometimes He doesn’t. But just because God doesn’t intervene in every unfair circumstance doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us.
The Bible is full of examples of Christians suffering unfairly. Nowhere does the Bible say life is easy. Joseph was thrown in a pit and sold into slavery. Stephen was martyred. Saul repeatedly tried to kill David. Jeremiah was ignored and abused. Jesus was crucified. The list goes on and on.
Life is hard, but the Christian has something other people don’t have in their hardships – God! God never promised life would be easy, but He did promise to be with us every step of the way. He promised He’d never leave or forsake us. He promised we’d never be alone. He promised His peace, comfort, and strength.
Consider this: Instead of blaming God, perhaps we could take a different approach. What about trusting God? We can trust God to be with us. We can trust God to do what’s best overall – not just for us. (Romans 8:28) In fact, when those bad things happen is the time we need to hold our faith tightly. We need to trust even more.
The book of Job is a life lesson about bad things happening to good people. Righteous Job lost everything – his health, his family, his fortune. Job was afflicted. Job suffered. Job was trying to make sense out of all of it. So Job was questioning God about it. Why? Why? Why? Haven’t I done everything you wanted? Why are these things happening to me?
Guess what? God neither explains nor defends what was happening to Job. However, God does answer a more significant question Job failed to ask. Who??? Who laid the foundations of the earth? Who is the Creator? Who has divine wisdom? Who is omnipotent? The list goes on and on. (Job 38-41) Job never finds out why, but he does find out Who – and ends up with more faith, confidence, and trust in God!
Here’s the deal…. God is God. Either we have faith in Him, or we don’t. God does not need to explain His actions to us. God does not need to apologize for what He does. God does not need to cower in a corner for not intervening when we thought He should.
If the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, do we still bless the Lord? (Job 1:21) We should, because we need to remember who God is. God is love – and He loves us.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
Don’t be guilty of ruining your life and blaming it on God. (Proverbs 19:3) Accept responsibility for your actions.
Don’t blame others for your mistakes. When Adam was confronted by God in the Garden of Eden, he blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. Everyone wants to blame someone else.
Learn to praise God always – in the good times and bad. When Paul and Silas were in jail, they prayed and sang praises to God. (Acts 16:25-34) Habakkuk said he would praise God even if the crops failed, the cattle died, and there was no food. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
Practice gratitude. Keep your mind focused on your blessings, not your problems. During difficult times, always thank God for being with you.
Instead of blaming God, try trusting Him. Let this be your whispered prayer throughout the day, “Lord, help me to trust You!”
