Post by cspain03 on Sept 11, 2014 10:43:33 GMT
The verses that stood out to me from today's reading were:
Ch. 5:
17 "Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.
Ch. 6:
2 "Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too!
3 But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild.
In thinking on our reflection topic, I find it ironic that these verses are played out in this order because it very similar to how things play out in life. When thinking back to a time where I questioned God or was really angry with Him, my first thought is always to my cousin's death when I was in high school. My cousin was only 26 when he died, he had a young daughter and was planning a wedding. I sad/hurt that he passed, especially with some much life ahead of him, but what over shadowed that sadness was PURE anger at God. Why? Why so young, why now, why him, why not me?! I stayed angry with God for a long time, from sophomore year in high school until Freshman year at UNC. Honestly, the defining moment of my faith was as a result of letting go of that anger (I give full credit to God using my fellow UNC Gospel Choir members to SHOW me how important it was to let go of that anger - THANK GOD FOR THE SAINTS!). Since then I've had other moments of questioning God through difficult times but I'm grateful for the growth that no one incident has returned me to that low place (don't get me wrong, I am still growing/God is still working on me!).
I look at the verses from Chapter 6 and I can think to the times in recent years when I shared those feelings and those feelings led to "wild worlds" - words of frustration, doubt, anger, words and thoughts that led me to question God's love for me. It's hard to take in the verses from Chapter 5 when you're in the middle of a storm, no matter who they are coming from, but especially when they come from people who you "expect to get it". I know I've been in situations where I just wanted everyone to justify my feelings, justify my "wild words" - but real friends, those who truly love and care for you, won't let you stay in the place (certainly there is a "right" and "wrong" way to go about doing that, but they still won't let you stay in that low place).
I thank God for working on me that I can look back on moments in my life where I questioned God or was angry with Him and see how He was trying to correct me: correct my constant nature of comparing myself to other people, correct my association with His love for me and material things/possessions, correct my desire for pleasing people first and pleasing God second, correct my automatic tendency to go to people for help/guidance/comfort and not bring my cares to Him. I pray that as I continue to grow and He continues to work on me that I can see the blessing IN those moments of correction and not always have to wait til after.
have a great day everyone!
Ch. 5:
17 "Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.
Ch. 6:
2 "Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too!
3 But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild.
In thinking on our reflection topic, I find it ironic that these verses are played out in this order because it very similar to how things play out in life. When thinking back to a time where I questioned God or was really angry with Him, my first thought is always to my cousin's death when I was in high school. My cousin was only 26 when he died, he had a young daughter and was planning a wedding. I sad/hurt that he passed, especially with some much life ahead of him, but what over shadowed that sadness was PURE anger at God. Why? Why so young, why now, why him, why not me?! I stayed angry with God for a long time, from sophomore year in high school until Freshman year at UNC. Honestly, the defining moment of my faith was as a result of letting go of that anger (I give full credit to God using my fellow UNC Gospel Choir members to SHOW me how important it was to let go of that anger - THANK GOD FOR THE SAINTS!). Since then I've had other moments of questioning God through difficult times but I'm grateful for the growth that no one incident has returned me to that low place (don't get me wrong, I am still growing/God is still working on me!).
I look at the verses from Chapter 6 and I can think to the times in recent years when I shared those feelings and those feelings led to "wild worlds" - words of frustration, doubt, anger, words and thoughts that led me to question God's love for me. It's hard to take in the verses from Chapter 5 when you're in the middle of a storm, no matter who they are coming from, but especially when they come from people who you "expect to get it". I know I've been in situations where I just wanted everyone to justify my feelings, justify my "wild words" - but real friends, those who truly love and care for you, won't let you stay in the place (certainly there is a "right" and "wrong" way to go about doing that, but they still won't let you stay in that low place).
I thank God for working on me that I can look back on moments in my life where I questioned God or was angry with Him and see how He was trying to correct me: correct my constant nature of comparing myself to other people, correct my association with His love for me and material things/possessions, correct my desire for pleasing people first and pleasing God second, correct my automatic tendency to go to people for help/guidance/comfort and not bring my cares to Him. I pray that as I continue to grow and He continues to work on me that I can see the blessing IN those moments of correction and not always have to wait til after.
have a great day everyone!
