“Stripes that wound scour away evil, and strokes reach the innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:30 NASB
I have questions for God. There are things I do not understand. I’m not talking about the inane stuff – like, can God make a boulder so big He can’t lift it? I’m also not talking about necessarily existential stuff such as – what is the meaning of the universe? I’m not even battling at the moment with why He allows suffering or sex trafficking. Nope I’m talking real life today stuff. Most of that other stuff is real, except maybe the boulder foolishness, but I’m wanting to know “Why a pandemic God?” “Why we can’t we be at peace with one another regardless of physical and sociological distinctive,” among other things right in our face today. However, as my friend Dr. Nate said in our first conversation about what’s going on, “What is the correct question and are we asking it?” Bingo! I believe it all starts with, as Simon Sinek says, the “Why”. Here is the uncomfortable truth about the why – it is to change us. Yep, God is committed to pruning away what is dead (sin) and bringing about health that accomplishes growth. I’m sounding a little like Rex the garden center guy. But Jesus tells us this in John 15. And pruning is painful, but hang on, great is on the way. Today, understand that our Father loves us too much to leave us the broken way we are, and embrace the hands of the Gardener. #BeTheEdge
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 NASB
