One plus one equals to…? Two! Of course the answer is two but sometimes in life one plus one may not add up to two. What do I mean?
Think about someone who put in all his times and efforts only to see another got promoted in work. Think about someone who sacrificed so much for the family but only to find their spouse walk out of their marriage. Think about someone who is disciplined, never stop exercising, eating the right food but yet suffered some serious illness.
Think about those adversities, misfortunes and unfair treatments that often left you wonder WHY? I know that feeling….angry, frustrated and injustice! Does life make sense when misfortunes happen to good people? When the arrogant got promoted and rises super fast? When the wicked prospers? Hello God, are you still in control?
Can you find anything like that in the bible? Yes, think about Abraham and Sarah who was well in advance in age waited so long for the birth of Isaac. Think about Joseph who was sold to Egypt, being accused by Potiphar’s wife, was sent to jail for the wrong he did not committed. Think about Job who was righteous and blameless but yet suffered terribly in the hand of Satan. Does life make sense?
The Psalmist (Asaph) expresses accurately in Psalm 73:3-13,
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth.
When one plus one does not add up to two, when life doesn’t make sense, when all the misfortunes fallen on you, when you have been victimized, when you have been treated unfairly, when you have been accused wrongly…
Please do not ask WHY! There are things that you can comprehend and there are things that you cannot understand. You just need to accept this fact. We are tempted to ask why, trying to find the answer but often left disappointed. The word WHY will cause you more frustrated. Such questioning will make you think that God does not love you anymore! Remember the devil will make you doubt on God’s love.
But nothing is further than the truth; God loves you more than anyone else. But you may ask why such thing happens. That is why I said don’t ask WHY. Ask HOW?
Instead of asking WHY, you should be asking HOW, how can I cope? How can I trust God? How can I overcome these challenges? How can I control my emotion? How can I turn this stumbling-stone into stepping-stone? HOW? HOW? HOW?
When you start to ask HOW, you put yourself in a position to depend on God. Instead of being angry with God, now you are depending on his strength, wisdom, and grace. With such a state of mind, I believe you can now face anything. Come, whatever come, God is with me, and I can face all things simply because God is with me, amen.
What about the WHY? The best way to due with it is to keep a file of all the WHY(s). You need to accept the fact that not everything in life you are able to understand. God’s way is higher than our way; God’s thought is higher than our thought. If God reveals, thank God. If he didn’t, keep it in a file and bring it to heaven. By then, you will have all the answers.
But now, instead of being gloomy, frustrated, disappointed, discouraged and unhappy, why not take a bath, wash your face, comb your hair and face the challenges and uncertainties with courage and confidence. Remember God is with you.
The good news is Abraham did have Isaac, Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt, and God blessed Job two-folds of what he had initially. If you read second portion of Psalm 73:16-28 regarding the wicked and arrogant,
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Lastly, I want you to know, whatever adversities, misfortunes and unfair treatments you are facing, God is will you, He will repay you. He will avenge for you. He will restore what you have lost. He will bless you.
Continue to have faith and trust in God.
No comments:
Post a Comment