Find Your Happy Place - July 18, 2010

It is an interesting and somewhat discomforting assignment to delve into the subject of suffering. There is bound to be some confusion, some misunderstanding, and some hurt. The truth is we all want answers. We want to know why.

The why question is an OK question to ask. Just prepare yourself for the likely answer. Job asked the why question and got the same answer that if we have been listening, we have heard over and over throughout our lives: "I am God." With his hands raised towards heaven in utter agony in the midst of indescribable personal loss, Job has just one question.... Why?

As I spoke with a few individuals after the teaching on Sunday I felt compelled to offer this reminder, and I offer it to you: Not even the greatest teaching on the issue of suffering will answer all of your questions. You will draw general themes and hopefully be able to get to a place where hardship in life doesn't ruin you. But the truth is, we all live with the tension of mystery in our lives. "Who's to blame?" "Why me?" "Should I run or should I stay?" "Will it get worse?" "When will it end?" Many of these questions will never be answered in the way that you wish. But there is always this one answer that is given as salve to the wounded, food to the hungry, and comfort to the broken; "I am God."

The degree of comfort that we experience from that simple statement is directly correlated to the depth of our knowledge of Him. You see, to know God is to gladly allow Him to be God, even when it doesn't make sense to me. He knows better, He knows more, He knows all, and He is God. He always will be. I can rest in that and take hope. I pray you can too.

Aaron