The Failure of God?

A still born baby, a fatal car wreck, a freak accident are all mysteries that cause us to struggle with the failure of God. A wayward child, a terminal disease, a terrorist attack... isn’t an all powerful God supposed to show His power by intervening in such painful mysteries? When a human mystery like the Bermuda triangle or the disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains unsolved, we are intrigued, but when a divine mystery takes center stage in our lives, it can easily lead us to despair. Why? Because mysteries leave us with questions, not answers.

Unanswered questions are the unwelcome companions to human suffering. Rarely does an answer emerge from suffering. Often, only more questions surface. Why won’t God heal when He could? Why do the innocent suffer? How can God really be good if He allows such evil?

When an infinite God allows unanswered questions, we as finite humans tend to attribute His silence or our lack of understanding to the failure of God. When God engages in mystery with us, we create a myth to explain His disappointing behavior—to help us understand. Our myths are what we conjure up because our human logic and feelings don’t measure up. Yet, our myths set a deceitful standard. When God does not meet it, we assume He failed. Our myths might sound like this, “If I just have enough faith, God will heal me; after all, don’t I deserve His blessing? If God is powerful enough to deliver me, then He should.”

The prophet Habakkuk must have struggled with, what I am calling, the failure of God. He experienced questions concerning suffering. He sought answers from God and never really received them. “How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save. Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.”

Yet, the dialogue between him and God doesn’t end with the Prophet’s questions being answered. The conversation with God ends in the book of Habakkuk with praise, and we find that the prophet is obviously satisfied with the unanswered questions... with the mystery. The Prophet’s satisfaction was not in the answer to his questions, but rather, in the encounter with the God he questioned. Our satisfaction is not found in the answer we do or do not receive from God either, but in the encounter we have with God because of the questions. The encounter provides meaning in the mystery.

I’ll be honest; I have more questions than answers. Yet, I do have peace. I live with that which I cannot understand. I daily embrace the mystery of my blindness and in this mystery I find meaning because I find God there. Like Habakkuk, the satisfaction I experience is not in answers, but in the encounter I have with God in the midst of the mystery.

Oh, my friend, I want you to have an encounter with God. May we all recognize that the failure we may have once assigned to God is really a failure of the myths we have unwittingly embraced. Only when we reject the myths and embrace the mystery, do we begin to experience the intimacy waiting for us. Answers never satisfy, only intimacy with God does. If you are in the midst of a painful mystery, stop seeking answers, seek God. He is waiting to satisfy you.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. Hab. 3:17-19 ESV

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark,
and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET
http://www.jenniferrothschild.com
JR@jenniferrothschild.com

Coming in July, Jennifer's newest release, Lessons I Learned in the Light

Purpose: The goal was for each woman to feel like a princess by the time she left. We focused our morning on letting go of past hurts, sin, and worry and healing our low self-esteem. We talked about how much God loves his daughters and yearns for them to accept their reigns as princesses.

Description: The brunch lasted from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Ladies of the church brought an assortment of fabulous brunch items like sweet rolls, casseroles, fruit, etc. A few men helped out in the kitchen so the women would be free to enjoy the event.

We decorated the room with white gossamer and pink roses. The centerpieces for the tables were made with silver metal holders, white roses, tiaras, and scepters. Each table had a pink, purple, or white tablecloth.

In the foyer, we had a registration table with a borrowed doll castle, white roses, and greenery to welcome the women. (We asked the ladies to wear their tiaras and provided a few freebie tiaras for those who did not bring one.) We opened with a song game to mix the ladies up and give them a chance to meet each other. We sang together, had a great speaker and played a game.

We gave away door prizes in princess bags. Prizes included Princess books by Sheri Rose Shepherd, Princess hot mits, princess key chains, princess suckers, etc. Little things to remind a woman daily that she is a princess.

We also asked each of the ladies to fill out a self- addressed envelopes that we included in their packets. The envelopes were passed around during the final game and each lady took home someone else's envelope (most likely someone they didn't know). They were each asked to use the envelope to send the addressee "princess" a reminder of how much God loves her!

This was absolutely wonderful. I have received several comments that many received special gifts, notes, and loving comments. Very touching! This was a time of healing and renewal. Such an awesome time with our LORD!

Submitted by: bennett7621@sbcglobal.net in Cyril, OK
 

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