We've Gone Soft

I have found, for me at least, that since my mind wanders a lot, that when I study the Bible and passages speak to me I can meditate on them better by putting down my thoughts on paper. Basically a study journal. Quite a few of my "journal entries" end up here on the blog.

Today is no different. The verse of the day at biblegateway.com, one of my study resources, is Ecclesiastes 11:5. “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” (NIV)

I have a saying that is not original to me but I use it a lot. It says, "There are two sure things in life. 1. There is a God and 2. You're not him." This saying is another way of stating Ecclesiastes 11:5. His ways are truly not our ways.

I'll admit that while I say the above quote quite a bit, I have a hard time with that reality. I don't understand what God does. Why would he take a 18 year old girl in a car accident who had incredible talents and an exceptionally bright future. Does God want my family to be burdened down by having an extra house for sale for over a year? He knows how desperately we need to sell the house. It was sold a year ago, we thought. What is he doing?

So many questions that simply have to be answered by the reality that we "cannot understand the work of God." I know God knows best and I trust that, however, I still struggle with not trying to "figure God out". This is a struggle for all of us not just me.

God has revealed to me that part of my problem I believe is a bigger issue that is prevalent here in the United States. We as a culture don't want any type of discomfort. We go to great lengths to keep ourselves from having difficulty. Like spoiled children we pray for God to remove the pain or relieve the frustrations we have and then get upset when he doesn't answer the way we want. In America we forget that life is hard. We have it so good we don't know what it's like to live with daily suffering. We have become soft. You would think that with the travels I have made to 3rd world countries and having seen the poverty and suffering that millions live with on a daly basis that I would be more thankful and less prone to frustration at my own little problems.

God forgive me for questioning your plans. Help me to remember how blessed I am and to respond with thanksgiving in spite of the difficulties I may experience. They are but light afflictions.