Armchair QB-Rumors of God

This weekend I visited Victory Church with women from my small group. We had a really peaceful morning of prayer, worship, and then lunch. Though we were strangers just a few years ago, it is amazing, even somewhat sneaky, how these women have become so dear to me.

I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!
I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."
(Job 42:5-6 MSG)

Pastor Curt spoke about pain this morning. He defined three types of pain:

Messed up world pain-
marriages struggle due to self centeredness, children aren't safe from abuse, and physical death

Stupid decision pain-
our decisions and choices result in our pain-you reap what you sow-debt, health issues

Enemy driven pain-
happens because the devil hates believers or when you are sinned against

What perked my ears up, tho, was the Suburban God Rumor. Simply put, it is the myth that God exists for us, that He is here to make our lives happier and more comfortable. I know lots of people who believe this. I did at one time. Curt went on to explain,

"When we keep God at arm's length, we become vulnerable to believe rumors of God."

Did you ever go thru something hard and wonder if God was really a "good" God?

Were you ever so oppressed by the pain screaming in your ears that you couldn't hear
God and then you began to wonder if He was really there?

Did you ever wonder why God would heap such tragedy on your head when He was supposed to be blessing you?

If anyone had problems, Job did. He was a well off man, rich in family and possessions. Still, in one day all his livestock were killed, his riches stolen, his children tragically killed. Then he developed a painful and disgusting skin disease. His wife, believing those rumors, chided him,

"Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!" (Job 2:9 MSG)

She wasn't much help. Neither were his friends who came to his side. But Job never cursed God. Was it because God was very real to Job? Is that why God came and spoke to him?


I have some questions for you,
and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Tell me, since you know so much!
Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that!
Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?
How was its foundation poured,
and who set the cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang in chorus
and all the angels shouted praise?
And who took charge of the ocean
when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb?
(Job 38 MSG)


I have been reading the prophets from the Babylonian exile and although the people are grief stricken and terrified, they somehow still believe in God's goodness.

Could we do the same?

When I put myself in my right place, as a creation of the Creator God...not equal to, not catered to...I find life seems more "right" and flows more easily. It is when my humility is lacking that life is so uncomfortable. I certainly don't have all the answers, but I know God is good. I know that He can redeem every situation and every pain. I have seen it. I chose to trust God's truth rather than rumors of God.

Comments

Anne Lang Bundy said…
Perhaps I'm strange, but I can't ever remember questioning if God is really good. What I did question constantly is why He seemed to have it in for me. For 26 years, I asked, "Why me?" Why did so much of my life go wrong?

When I began walking with Jesus, I didn't realize how much He changed my perception until one day I found myself asking again, "Why me?" Why should I be so blessed, why should I have Jesus and His grace, why should God see me of any value? No matter how hard life gets, I never fail to be amazed that God's love for me is still evident.

I want to reach the next step, when I simply accept His love and don't question God at all.
October 26, 2009 at 4:53 PM
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