Today I had the privilege of hearing the author of The Shack, W. Paul Young, speak to a group of high school students and I was allowed to listen in. I have read The Shack twice so I am pretty familiar with the imagery and the analogies used in the book. When I read books such as The Shack, I always wonder what brought the author to write such a book. That question along with many others were answered today. If you haven't read the book, I strongly recommend reading it and reading it again.
So, I am still processing a lot of what was said today but I left feeling perplexed and somewhat encouraged at the same time. Young stated" that the only thing that is true in life is the character of God." I believe that, I really do. That's why I am trying to figure out the character of God. Yet in trying to "figure out God" the mystery of God is gone and what would the need for faith be?
Thought #2- God allows bad things to happen. I can get that too. I've gone around and around and around on the issue so I now can say that I believe God allows bad things to happen. It's the why I don't quite get. We will never know the why behind that. Young pointed out today that when God allows bad things to happen, He has the ability to bring good out of those bad things. With that being said, does God allow bad things to happen so He can bring good out of them? And, is it possible that God can bring good from all bad situations? I'm not saying that horrible situations are good...I will NEVER say that, but I wonder if it's possible that God brings good out of all those situations. But I think we have to let Him work in those situations and not shut him out.
Thought #3- It's all about relationship, not trying to figure everything out. God wants a relationship with me that isn't based on me having it all figured out. I think it's based on trusting Him with the small amount of trust I have and building from there. Throughout the Shack, Mac never gets belittled or fussed at for questioning God or for trying to "figure it all out." He's just encouraged to keep trying..keep pursuing a relationship with Papa.
It is encouraging to me to hear about others struggles and how God has brought them through. I honestly don't think that ANYONE really understands my struggle. Sometimes I get tired of trying to make them understand and see where I am coming from. So, that attributes to the loneliness. But Mac seems to be like me in a lot of ways and in that I find comfort.
More thoughts to come... Papa...what a nice thought
Monday, November 03, 2008
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2 comments:
I have been struggling lately with putting that into words. hearing people talk about the Bible as a 'tool', saying that I have a routine of reading it....it's just so hard to explain and living it equally hard so I blog and join other wrestlers on the journey and find ......some rest, contentment in that....geez I would love to just have a cuppa coffee with people who wrestle and share how real that is....
I think there may be a difference between understanding the "character" of God and understanding "how" God works. I do believe we can know and understand His character. There is nothing mysterious about it. Scripture lays it out for us. However, there is no way we will ever understand "How" He works.
God allows things to happen because people have free will. It shouldnt' surprise us that bad things happen. It should amaze us that God has a way of bringing good out of all things. It doesn't mean you embrace the situation as good, but you can embrace a good God who is able to do more than we can imagine....
Just my .02 worth.
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