Encouragement 4 The Day: "Christianity and the Heart of God"

So I’m reading another book by Philip Yancey “The Bible Jesus Read” and in there was a passage which read:

“God has it out with loud complainers like Job, Jeremiah and Jonah. He engages Abraham and Moses in lengthy arguments- and sometimes lets them win! In his wrestling match with Jacob, God waits until daybreak to inflict the wound; till then, Jacob holds his own. Quite obviously, God prefers honest disagreement to dishonest submission.”

Honest disagreement to dishonest submission…how absolutely profound and contradictory to what’s being taught in many churches today. Questioning God is still taboo. Being a witness in the midst of struggles is paramount to sainthood. Please don’t misunderstand me here. I agree that God is all powerful and for His brilliance alone, He deserves our respect. Maintaining a cheerful demeanor in the midst of trials is certainly a means of witnessing and of being an inspiration to others.

Here’s my divide: Where do you place Christians who desire to love God but in the midst of pain find it hard to do so? Should they keep up the cheerful façade or honestly take their issues up with God?

My conclusion:

·         I agree with Yancey-God knows the heart anyway so the smile on your face, the song on your lips and the anger in your heart does not fool Him.

·         As with a lover, a relationship only lasts when you can truly believe in the other person’s heart.

·         Ergo, if you find yourself struggling with God, you’re having an issue with His heart and quite frankly, it’s pointless and fake going through the motions just because it’s expected of you.

·         Wrestle with God-it fosters an engaging rather than a passive Christian experience. Wrestle with Him until you can grab hold of His heart.

·         It is only then when in the midst of the storm will you TRULY be able to say and feel the words: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” Job 13:15

No one can do this for you just as no one can love someone else for you. Your church, your pastor, those praying sisters cannot latch on to the heart of God for you. And so, each person’s journey, each person’s relationship, each person’s faith will be different.

Find God for yourself…